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whole  irn^rejjion  ivas  finijhed^ 


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TT  r  r  i   I   I  r  r  1   i  1  T  x***  l  i   r  T  i  1  r  •  t  il   111 


Dr.  Mayhew\ 


TWO 


Thankfgiving 
DISCOURSES 


November  23d,  1758. 


^^^^*H^it'4*^*t^^i*^^*i*'i'^4*4*^*i*4'*^'4*^^^ 


%■' 


TWO 

DISCOURSES 

Delivered  November  23d.  1758. 

BEING     THE 

Day  appointed  by  Authority 

T  O     B  E 

Obferved  as  a  Day  of  public 
THANKSGIVING: 

Relating,  more  Efpecially, 
TO     THE 

Succefs  of  His  Majesty's  Arms, 

And  thofe  of  the 

King  of  Prussia,  the  laft  Year. 

By  yonathan  Mayhew^  Z).  Z). 

Partor  of  the  Wtft  Ckurch  in  Bojion, 


BOSTON:    N.  E. 
Printed  and  Sold  by  R.  Draper  in  Newbury-Street, 
and  by  Edes  &  Gill,  and  Green  &  Russell, 
in  Queen-Street, 


Sc 


Discourse  I. 

The  late  Smiles  of  Providence, 
repreftnted. 

P  S  A  L  M     C.    Vcrrc4th. 

ENTER  into  his  Gates  ivith  Hmnlf- 
giving^  and  into  his  Courts  with 
Praife  :  be  tha^ikful  unto  hii?i^^  and 
hlefs  his  Name. 

"E  arc  this  day  called  in  the  good 
providence  of  God,  and  exhorted 
by  our  civil  rulers,  to  difcharge  the 
duty  which  the  royal  Pfalmitl  here 
inculcates  on  the  people  of  Ifrael  :  I  mean, 
publickly  and  folcmnly  to  render  thanks  to  almighty 
God,  for  his  great  and  iindeferved  mercies.  It  does 
not  indeed  appear,  that  either  the  pfalm  in  general, 
or  the  words  read  in  particular,  were  occalioned   by 

any 


6  7hz  late  Stntks  of 

any  fpcciul  or  remarkable  intcrpofitlons  of  divine  pro- 
vidence in  favour  of  the  Jews  ;  but  rather,  that  the 
plahn  has  refpe(ft  thro  out  to  the  goodnefs  of  God  in 
general  towards  his  people  :  So  that  the  admonition 
in  the  text  may  pre)perly  be  con(idered  as  a  (landing, 
perpetual  exhortation  to  the  people  of  God  in  all 
ages  xxiS  genet  ations,  to  pay  their  public  united  ac- 
kriOvvled^rijcntk  to  Kim  for  his  mercies.  However, 
tho'  the  exhortation  is  in  itleif  thus  general  or  inde- 
finite, you  are  fenfible  that  there  are  Ibme  particular 
times  and  feafons,  wherein  all  fuch  general  counfcis 
demand  a  fpecial  attaition  ;  wherein  there  is  a  pecu- 
liar propriety  in  obferving  them ;  and  in  which,  it 
v/ould  therefore  be  doubly  criminal  to  difregard  them. 
And  this  being  confidcred,  1  humbly  conceive,  there 
jsviii  at  lead  appear  no  impropriety  in  my  choice  of 
thefe  words,  for  the  ground  of  my  difcourfes  on 
tiie  prefent  joyful  occafion  :  Efpccially  if  it  be  fur- 
ther conHdered,  that  the  mercies  and  blefHngs,  for 
which  we  are  now  entered  into  the  courts  of  our  God 
with  praife,  are  nor,  all  of  them,  peculiar  to  the  pre- 
fent feafon ;  but  fome  of  them  of  fuch  long  conti- 
huante,  that  they  may,  with  refpeft  to  us,  be  looked 
upon  as  common, mercies ;  tho'  not  the  lefs  valuable 
in  rhemfelves  on  that  account,  nor  the  lefs  demand- 
ing our  gratitude  and  praife  to  the  Father  of  I'ghts, 
from  whom  ev^ry  .good  and  perfeft  gift  defccndeth.^ 

It  is  rhersfore  propos'd,  by  divine  affiftance, 

First,  To  reprcfent  to  you,  as  particularly  as  tUc 
time  will  well  allow,  what  thofe  bleflings  arc,  to  give 
thanks  to  God  for  which,  we  are  now  afTembled  in 
his  hourc. 

SecondlYi 


Providence  r^prefenied»  ,  f 

Secondly,  I  fiiall  explain,  and  inculcate  upon 
you,  the  duty  of  religious  thankfulncfs  for  ihefe 
mercies.  And 

Lastly,  I  fhall  prcfs  ic  upon  you  to  live  an- 
fwcrably  to  the  obligations  which  God  has  laid  us 
under  by  beftowing  them  upon  U3. 


I.  Let  me  reprcfcnt  to  you,  ?s  particularly  as  is 
convenient,  what  thofe  bleflings  are,  to  give  thanks 
to  (jcd  for  which,  we  are  now  afiemblcd  together. 
For  unlfifs  we  have  fbme  juft  and  proper  conception 
of  thefe,  it  is  impoflible  for  us  to  be  duly  and  ra- 
tionally thankful,  or  to  give  God  the  glory  due 
unto  his  name  on  account  of  them. 

In  fpeaklng  of  thefe  mercies,  I  fliall  not  have 
occafion,  nor  indeed  would  it  be  altogether  proper, 
to  go  beyond  his  Excellency's  proclamation,  ap- 
pointing this  day  to  be  religioufly  obferved,  and 
fpecifying  the  occafion,  or  particular  rcafons  thereof. 
Now  thefe  various  bleflings  may  eafily  be  reduced 
to,  and  ranged  under,  the  following  heads,  viz. 

ift.  Those  which  relate  to  the  civil  flatc  of  the 
nation  in  general  ;  as  the  prcfcrvation  of  the  Britifb 
government,  and  of  our  rights  and  liberties  ;  toge- 
ther with  the  happy  profpeft  we  have  of  their  being 
long  continued   to  us." 

sdly.  Those  which  relate  particularly  to  the  prc- 
fcnt  war  ;  or  the  (ucccflcs  given  to  his  Majefly's 
arms,  the  lafl  year,  and  to  the  aims  of  his  royal  and 
illuftrious  ally,  the  King  of  Pfuflla.       And, 

3dly.  ThosH 


8  7Z^  late  Smiles  of 

3dly.  Those  which  relate  more  efpecially  to  th's 
province;  as  ihe  fruitful ncfs  of  the  paO  feafbn,  and. 
the  general  plenty  and  health,  with  which  we  have 
been  favour'd. 

Whatever  is  mentioned  in  the  Governor's  pro- 
clamation, as  a  ground  for  our  religious  rcjoycing  and 
thankful nefs  to  God  at  this  time,  may,  1  fuppofe, 
naturally  fail  under  one  or  the  other  of  thefe  heads. 
Let  us  proceed  to  a  more  diflinft  confideration  of 
them  :  tho*  it  is  propofed  to  enlarge  chiefly  on  the 
fecond. 

I  ft.  Let  us  confidcr  thofe  bleflings  which  relate 
to  the  civil  ftate  of  the  |  nation  in  general  ;  as  the 
prcfervation  of  the  Britifh  government,  and  of  our 
rights  and  liberties ;  together  with  the  happy  profpe6l 
we  have  of  their  being  long  continued  to  us. 

Ths  blcfTmgs  of  this  clafs  are  refen-ed  to  in 
the  former  part  of  his  Excellency's  proclamation, 
where  it  is  obferved,  that  it  "  hath  plcafed  the  Fa- 
**  ther  of  mercies  to  continue  us  in  the  enjoyment 

*'  of  many  invaluable  bleffings,- to  prolong  the 

**  important  life  of  our  moft  gracious  Sovereign  ; 
"  and  to  continue  to  us  the  prolpe^l  of  that  invalu- 
*'  able  bleffing,  the  protefrant  fuccelTion,  in  his  rrfyal 
"  houfe  ;  to  fupport  us  in  our  civil  and  religious 
"  rights  and  liberties."  Thefe,  tho'  mentioned  as 
mercies  which  we  have  long  enjoyed,  are  nevcrthe- 
lefs,  truly  great ;  and  ought,  from  time  to  time  to 
be  folemnly  recognized  by  us  as  fuch,  efpecially  upon 
public  occafions  like  the  prcfcnt.  The  BritiPn  go- 
vernment and  laws,  by  which  the  fubjcft's  life  and 
liberty,   his  property   and   religion,  are  all  fo  >vcU 

fccured 

I  By  the  nation  in  general^  are  here  intended,  aU  Britijk- 


Providence  reprefented,  ^ 

fecured  to  him,  are  blefTings,  very  extenfive  in  theii* 
nature,  and  will  ever  be  accounted  invaluable,  by 
all  who  have  a  jufl  conception  ol  what  the  h.^ppinels 
of  civil  foeicty  confills  in  ;  or  who  have  really  any 
religion,  which  they  can  reafonubly  think  tlumfelvcs 
bound  in  conicience  to  praftlfe.  Indeed  foch  a  free 
and  happy  form  of  government  as  the  Briiiflij  m^y 
poflibly  be  difrclilhed  by  ab'.ft  minds,  long  tutor'd 
to  ferviliry,  or  blinded  and  infatuated  by  a  'r^rrid  fu- 
perlhtion,  the  reverfe  of  all  raiiona  p'ety  Howrver, 
thefe  perfons  are  not  exceptions  to  ihc  .ibovc  aiicr- 
tion,  having  neither  any  proper  notion  of  civil  hap- 
pinefs,  nor  any  relieiou  which  a  well-informed  con- 
icience could  poflibly  concern  Itfelf  at  all  about, 
unlefs  it  were  fo  fax  as  to  difcard  it  with  indignation. 
Whatever,  flaves,  and  the  blind  votaries  to  fuch  a 
fuperfVition,  falfely  called  religion,  may  think  ;  or 
however  evil  they  may  "  fpcak  of  thofe  things 
"  which  they  underfland  not",  wife,  good  and  un- 
prejudiced men,  will  always  venerate  fuch  a  conQi- 
tution  of  government,  thinking  themfelves  happy  if 
they  live  under  it,  and  if  they  do  not,  envying  to 
thofc  that  do,  fo  diflinguifhing  a  priviledge. 

-Of  this  free  government,  and  of  thcfe  laws,  which, 
next  to  thofe  of  the  gofpel,  may  be  juftly  termed 
*♦  the  laws  of  liberty",  his  prefent  MajeHy  has  all 
9long,  from  his  firff  acceffion  to  the  throne,  been 
a  rteady  defender  ;  being  both  a  true  proteilant,  and 
a  friend  to  the  natural  rights  of  mankind,  efiicciall/ 
to  thofe  of  his  own  fuNjeiffs.  For  which  rcsfbn  ic 
ought  to  be  looked  on  as  a  great  fmile  of  heaven 
tpon  the  nation,  that  his  life  ha>?  been  lengthened 
out  till  he.  is  now  fefcome  old,  and  full  of  days.- 
And  tho'  his  good  rub)L-<9:s  cannot,  without  reluctances 
think  on  that  time,  now^  near  according  to  the  ufual 
B  courfe 


JO  The  late  Smiles  of 

Courfe  of  nature,  when  their  royal  ben efa^f^or  and 
father  mufl:  fubmit  to  the  common  law  of  murtality  j 
yet  we  are  in  fome  meafure  relieved  under  the  me- 
)ancho!ly  apprchenfion,  by  reflecting  on  his  nume- 
rous poAerity,  and  feeing  the  fijcccfTion  to  the  Britifh 
throne,  made  as  fure  as  human  laws  can  make  it,  in 
his  royal  and  proteflant  houfe.  I  add  proteflant 
houfe,  not  only  bccaufe,  by  the  aft  of  fcttlemenc 
and  fucccfTion,  none  but  a  protcftant  can  reign  upon 
the  Britifh  throne  ;  bat  alfo,  bccaufe  the  happinefs 
of  the  nation,  under  God,  cflentially  depends  on 
being  governed  by  fuch  a  king  ;  and  this  illuflrious 
houfe  has  long  diflinguifh'd  itfelf  by  a  well-regulated 
zeal  for  the  proteflant  caufe,  in  oppofition  to  papa! 
iifurpation. 

It  were  next  to  maduefs  to  imacEine,  that  the 
nation  could  ever  be  fafe  and  happy  under  a  roma» 
catholic  prince :  Comnicfn  fenfe  fliows,  that  fuch  a 
one  mufl'  needs  think  his  power  too  much  reflrained 
by  tJie  laws  of  Britain  ;  looking  on  which  as  an  in- 
fringement of  the  royal  dignity,  he  would  of  courfe 
make  frequent  infraffions  on  them  ;  at  leaff  as  often, 
and  perhaps  oftener,  than  he  could  do  it  with  fafe- 
ty  to  himfelf.  Faft  and  experience  are  not  wanting 
to  confirm  this  obfcrvation.  For  the  nation  has 
formerly  had  melanchoUy  experience  of  its  truth, 
in  at  leafl  two  princes  of  the  Stewart  race ;  whofc 
arbitrary  principles  and  praftices,  naturally,  if  not 
necefTarily  conneftcd  with  their  religion,  plainly 
fliew'd  that  one  of  the  greatefl:  curfes  righteous 
heaven  can  fend  upon  Great  Britain,  is  a  romanca- 
tholic  King.  While  fuch  a  King  reigns,  the  mcfl 
fundamental  laws  of  the  kingdom  are  no  fecurity 
to  the  fubjeft,  cither  with  refpcft  to  liberty  or  pro- 
perty, religion  or  life ;  unlefi  it  be  to  popifh  fub- 


Providence  reprefented,  ii 

jrfls :  Who  indeed  may  live,  and  increafc,  and  flou- 
rifli  abundantly,  under  that  iame  baleful  influence 
which  blads  all  good  men.  And  if  God,  in  his 
good  providence,  had  not  dehvered  the  nation  frotn 
the  contemptible,  tho*  royal  race  above-mentioned, 
ijt  is  not  improbable,  that  we  might  at  this  very  time 
have  groaned  under  the  iron  fcepter  of  a  confirmed, 
lawlels  defpotifm,  and  the  antichridian  yoke  of  reli- 
gious perfccution  :  Unlefs,  perhaps,  before  this  time 
all  good  proteftants  liad  been  rooted  out  and  de- 
ftroycd  ;  and  fo  made  a  mighty  addition  to  the  fouh 
which  St,  John  faw  under  the  altar  ;  the  fouls  of 
"  them  that  were  flain  for  the  word  of  God,  and 
"  for  the  teftimony  which  they  held":  and  which 
he  heard  "  crying  with  a  loud  voice,  faying,  How 
*'  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  dofl  thou  nor  judge 
"  and  evenge  our  blood  on  them  tl.at  dwell  on  the 
"  earth  f !" 

These  things  being  briefly  obfervcd,  I  may  leave 
you  to  judge,  how  great  the  bleffing  is,  of  having  the 
life  of  a  good  proteflant  King,  the  Britifii  govern- 
ment, and  with  it  our  rights  and  liberties,  fecular 
and  facred,  preferved  to  us  ;  and  this,  while  we 
have  had  fo  many  enemies,  at  Icafl  foreign  ones, 
who  would  have  rejoiced  in  depriving  us  of  them. 

But  let  us  now  proceed  to  thofe  mercies  which 
were  above  referred  to  another  clafs  ;  viz. 

2dly.  Those  v;hich  relate  to  the  prefent  war; 
as  the  fuccefles  given,  the  lafl:  year,  to  the  arms  f»r 
his  Majef\y,  and  to  the  arms  of  his  illuffrious  ally, 
the  King  of  Pruffia.  Upon  thefc,  I  fhall  be  fomc- 
thing  more  particular  than  on  the  former.  They 
B  2  hoM 

\  Rev.  6.  9,  10. 


1 2  *The  late  Smiles  of 

hold  the  (econd  place  in  hisExcellency's  proclamation  ; 
where  it  is  oSferved,  Thar  it  hath  pleafed  God  **  to 
"  gi\e  reinarkabie  Ipirit  to  h!s  Majciiy's  counfclsand 
*'  reriutions;  and  in  divers  inftanccs  to  crown  4iis 
*'  wife  and  vigorous  inealures  with  fuccefs  ;  and  to 
**  proiper  the  an.;^  of  his  Majelly's  ally  the  King  of 
'*  Pruifia,  in  ibpporc  of  the  proteflant  caufc,"  &:c. 

It  is  manifeftjOotwithlianding  fomcftrange delays, 
defeats  and  difgraces;  (with  a  detail  of  which,  the 
religious  joy  and  gratitade  of  this  day  ought  not  to 
be  damped)  It  is.  1  fay,  manifeft,  notwiihrtanding 
thefe  delays  and  difgraces,  that  the  war  has  beer* 
profecuied  the  laft  year,  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain, 
with  uncommon  vigour  ;  and  that  the  advantages 
gained  both  by  fea  and  land,  have  been  very  confide- 
rable  :  So  that,  upon  the  whole,  this  has  been,  to  us, 
a  fuccefsful  campaign  ;  and,  in  proportion,  difadvan* 
tageous,  and  a  weakening  to  the  enemy.  Let  us 
take  a  curfory  view  o'i  the  events  of  the  war  this 
year,  and  of  the  lodes  ful^ained  by  the  enemy,  both 
by  land  and  fca.  But  minute  circumdanccs  would 
not  be  thought  worthy  of  a  place  here,  tho'  there 
were  room  for  them. 

If  we  begin  with  our  fuccefles  by  land  ;  It  is  t* 
be  obferved,  that  his  Majefly's  hereditary  dominions 
on  the  continent  have  been  rclcu'd  out  of  the  ene- 
my's hands,  wh  r  they  triumphed  the  year  before, 
and  committed  fuch  barbarian  havock  and  devaftation. 
They  have  in  their  turn  been  beaten  and  routed 
there,  with  confidcrable  lofs  both  of  men,  and  war- 
like ftores  :  So  that  their  laurels  had  but  juft  bloomed, 
when  they  were  fuddenly  withered,  and  the  cypreft 
fuccceded  them  :  Whereby  was  verified  that  antient 
pbfervation,  **  That  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked 
V*  is  ihort^  and  the  joy  of  the  hypocrite  but  for  a 

^*  mome:it  ^ 


Providence  reprefented.  ij 

*'  moment ;  tho*  liis  excellency  mount  up  to  the 
*'  hcivcns,  and  his  head  reach  unto  the  clouds'*  f. 
And  there  is  foine  reafon  at  leaft  to  hope,  that  the 
enemy  will  not  foon  be  in  a  capacity  to  make  them- 
felves  again  mailers  of  that  country,  and  repeat  their 
brutal  oLitra^;es,  loudly  complained  of  even  by  fome 
of  their  own  grcatelt  commanders  ^. 

There  have,  moreover,  been  at  lead  two  §  fuc- 
ccfsful  defcents  made  by  Great  Britain  on  the  coafls 
of  France.  In  thefe  the  enemy  have  fuftained  the 
lofs  of  Tome  confidcrable  magazines,  feveral  fortreflet, 
many  ci.nnon,  and  military  (lores;  all  amounting  to 
a  larrc  value  :  And  were  likewifj  obliged,  by  ano- 
ther large  fum,  to  ranfom  one  of  their  cities,  or 
fortified  towns.  Thefe  events  are  not  a  little  in 
our  favour  ;  to  fay  nothing  of  the  conftant  alarms 
on  the  French  coafls  the  laft  year,  with  the  confe- 
quences  thereof ;  or  the  fecurity  enjoyed  on  the 
eoafh  of  Britain.  It  mny  be  added,  that  thefe  de- 
fcents would  doubtlefs  have  proved  of  ftill  more 
pernicious  confequence  to  the  enemy  than  they 
have,  tho'  lefs  honourable  to  the  Bririfh  General, 
had  not  his  noble  bread  been  full  of  that  compaffion, 
thnt  humanity  and  gcncrofity,  to  which  fome  of  the 
French  commanders,  under  the  like  circumdances, 
have  ihown  themfelves  drangersl. 

Ok  the  wedern  coafls  of  Affrlca  feveral  forts 
have  been  taken  from  the  enemy,  together  with  one 

of 

t  J«h  XX.  J.  6. 

*  Marflul  Bcllcidc's  Speech  in  Council,  is  here  more  partic*- 
larly  alluded  to.  §  At  St.  Maloes  and  Cherbourg. 

^  Witnefs.  particularly,  the  Maifacrc  after  the  Surrender  oT 
fort  V\i  I  Ham -Henry  to  >louf.  Monicalm,  anU  tlic  figning 
C/(  tliC   CapitulutioQ. 


14-  7^^  Icite  Smiles  of 

ef  their  important  fettlemcnts  f  ;  whereby,  it  is Taid',' 
great  trcafures  have  fallen  into  the  han'.ls  of  the 
captors.  And,  fey  what  we  have  hitherto  learnM, 
this  conquefl:  may  probably  prove  eventually  of  very 
great  advantajs^c  to  Great  Britain,  and  at  lead  equally 
detrimental  to  the  commerce  and  intercit  of  France. 

As  to  the  Eafl  Indies ;  our  accounts  from  thence, 
feem  to  be  quite  vague  and  uncertain  at  belt,  if  not 
contradictory.  So  that  we  can  fay  nothing  particu- 
larly or  pofitively  concerning  the  Itate  of  affairs 
in  Afia,  wkh  refpedl  to  the  war  ;  or  whether  we,  or 
our  enemies,  have  been  fuccefsful  in  thofe  diftant 
pans.     Let  us  therefore  come  to  America. 

And  here  the  very  flrong,  and  at  leafl:  equally 
important  city  and  fortrefs  of  the  enemy  on  Cape 
Breton,  have  furrender'd  to  his  Majefty's  arms, 
where  a  prodigious  quantity  of  artillery,  fmall-arms, 
and  military  ftores  of  all  kinds,  fell  into  our  hands. 
In  confequence  of  which  acquifition,  obtained  with 
an  inconfiderable  lofs  of  Britifii  troops,  all  the  (de- 
pendencies of  Louisbourg,  have  been  furrender'd  ; 
and  many  thoufands  of  the  enemy  fent  out  of 
America,  where  their  continuance  might  have  proved 
©f  very  pernicious  confequence.  I  might  add,  that 
hereby  the  enemy  have  in  effeft  lofl,  not  only  their 
great  fifiiery,  but  the  key  of  Canada  ;  on  which 
/bmc  of  their  more  fouthern  forts  and  fettlements 
arc  dependent.  It  would  have  been  proper  to  en- 
large on  the  importance  of  this  acquifition,  and  the 
very  favourable  circumftances  attending  it,  had  I 
not  lately  done  this  fo  particularly,  on  the  day  ap- 
pointed by  the  government  to  acknowledge  the 
great  goodnefs  of  God  on  account  hereof, 

His 

I  ScQCgal. 


Providence  reprefenled,  15 

His  majefty's  forces  have  alfo,  the  fiimmer 
part,  taken  pofTefTion  of  the  river,  and  adjacent 
country,  of  Sr.  John's,  in  the  bay  of  Funda  :  Of 
the  great  confequence  of  which  to  them,  and  to 
their  views  in  America,  the  French  were  fo  fully 
apprifed,  that  according  to  their  wonted  jx)hcy  and 
good  faith,  they  feifcd,  and  fortified  thereon,  feveral 
years  ago,  in  a  time  of  profound  peace.  They  were 
indeed  forced  by  fome  Britifli  troops,  about  two 
years  fince,  to  abandon,  and,,  as  fome  fay,  to  demo- 
lifh  the  fortrcfs  which  they  had  cre<^cd  there.  But 
till  this  year  we  had  not  fortified,  nor  done  any 
thing  which  could  well  be  called  taking  poflefTion 
of  tiie  place  :  Both  which  being  now  done,  it  may 
be  rcafonably  hoped,  that  the  future  pofTclTion  of 
that  important  river  and  fine  country,  are  effectually 
fecurcd  to  his  Britannic  majelly,  to  whom,  of  right, 
they  unqucitionably  belonged  before. 

I N  addition  to  what  has  already  been  mention* 
ed,  it  mult  be  obferved,  that  a  fortrcfs  of  great  con- 
fequence, ufually  culled  Frontinac,  at  the  entrance 
of  the  great  river  St.  Lawrence  on  the  lake  fide,  has 
been  reduced  to  furrender  to  a  body  of  his  majeOy's 
trcops,  chiefly  provincial  irregulars.  This  acquifi- 
tion  may  be  reckoned  very  confiderable  in  divers 
refpe£ts  ;  in  refpcft  of  the  llrengih  of  the  fortreft 
itfelf ;  of  its  fituation  ;  of  the  vaft  quantity  of 
Itores,  provifions,  arms,  and  other  riches  found 
therein  ;  in  refpeft  of  the  little  lofs  of  men  in  ma- 
king it ;  and  lafUy,in  rcfpcft  of  the  critical  conjunc- 
ture wherein  it  was  made.  For  we  are  afiured,  that 
St  confiderable  body  of  the  cn^my  were  at  that  time 
actually  in  motion,  to  proceed  againll  the  wcflcra 
part  of  New-York  government  ;  depending  wholly 
upon  this  ];lacc  for  iruvifionS;  aud  other  liores,  ne- 

cefTarjr 


1 6  ^Prcvicle?ice  reprefeiiied, 

cefTary  for  the  undertaking.  So  that  their  whole 
de(ign,  which,  had  they  proceeded,  might  have 
proved  of  very  bad  confeqiience  to  iis,  was  at  once 
fruftrated,  by  the  very  opportune  reduffon  of  this 
fortrtfs.  Hereby  alio,  it  is  at  leaO:  probable,  the 
enemy  in  feveral  other  places  to  the  fouthward  and 
weflward,  as  well  as  the  favages  in  their  alliance, 
were  difappointed  of  thofe  fupplies,  which  they  very 
much  needed.  How  favourable,  therefore,  was  the 
providence,  by  which  this  fortrefs  was  reduced  and 
difinantled,  if  not  entirely  demolifhed  ?  efpecially, 
when  we  add,  that  this  was  effefted  almoft  with- 
out the  lo(s  of  any  lives  on  our  (ide  ;  or,  as  fome 
confidently  affirm,  without  a  fingle  one  ? 

Thefe,  my  brethren,  are  fome  of  the  fuccefles 
which,  by  the  bleflTmg  of  God  on  his  majerty's  arms, 
we  have  had  by  land,  in  the  courfe  of  the  year  paft. 
As  a  ballance  to  which,  the  enemy  can  pretend  to 
pone  againfl:  us  ;  1  fay,  as  a  ballance  to  them  ;  for 
fome  fuccefles  they  have  doiibtlefs  had.  But  they 
have  taken  none  of  our  fortrefTes,  that  we  know  of  j 
they  have  made  no  defcents  on  our  coafts  ;  they 
have  made  a  conqueft  of  no  place  ;  they  have  obtain- 
ed no  confiderable  viftory.  Though  it  muft  be  ac- 
knowledged, that  they  repulfed,  by  fome  means 
or  other,  and  with  lofs  to  us,  what  might  be  looked 
on  as  a  very  formidable  army  in  America,  coming 
againft  them  ^.  It  muft  likewife  be  confefled  that, 
with  the  afTiiiance  of  their  good  friends  and  brc-r 
thren,  the  favages,  they  have  cut  the  throats  of  fome 
men,  and  of  great  numbers  of  poor  women  and  chil- 
dren, on  the  frontiers  of  the  fouthern  colonies.  But 
how  much  foever  they  may  be  difpofed  to  glory 
and   triumph  in  thefe  heroic  exploits,   it  may  be 

queltioneci 

*  At  Lake  George,  near  TIconderog^a» 


Providence  reprefented.  1 7 

qucftioneJ  whether  even  they  could,  without  blufli- 
ing,  pretend  to  make  ihem  near  etjuivalent  to  the 
nd vantages  obtained  againfl:  them  ;  tho'  they  have 
foreheads,  in  fuch  refpe^ls,  inferior  to  thofc  cf  no 
nation  under  heaven. 

But,  if  you  plcafe,  we  will' now  take  a  brief 
view  of  our  fuccelles  by  fea  the  lalt  year  ;  and  of 
what  the  enemy  have  lliffcr'd  in  their  naval  power 
and  commerce. 

And,  if  I  miftake  not,  it  is  computed  that 
in  the  Mediterranean,  on  ihe  coalt  of  Africa,  in  ths 
bay  of  Bifcay,  in  the  Englifli  channel,  in  the  VVefl- 
Indies,  and  at  the  (iege  and  lurrender  ofLouif- 
bourg,  the  loyal  navy  of  France  has  fuftained  the 
lols  of  about  thirty  Ihips,  greater  and  lefs,  the  year 
part  :  Some  of  ihcm  capital  ones,  and  much  the 
greater  part  of  which,  not  having  been  defh-oyed, 
have  been  added  to  the  royal  navy  of  Great-Britain. 
A  heavy  lofs,  indeed,  to  them,  which  affc<5ls  them 
ifi  the  tendered:  point  ;  and  of  great  confequcnce  to 
vis.  And  under  this  head  of  what  the  royal  navy 
of  France  has  fufTcrcd,  1  may  juft  mention  the 
capture  and  de[fru6tion  of  all  her  armed  vcntl$  on 
lake  Ontario,  in  the  very  fuccefsful  expedltioa 
?gainff  Fronrinac,  fpoken  of  above.  The  enemy's 
lofs  of  thefe  veflels  of  war,  and  with  them,  of  iheir 
ufurped  dominion  of  that  lakc,is  not  trivial  to  them, 
confidcring  the  prefent  firuation  of  their  affairs  in 
America  ;  and  elpecially  the  importance,  or  rather 
necefTity,  of  their  having  a  free  and  fafe  communi- 
cation between  Canada  and  Niagara,  the  Ohio,  Zlz. 

But  what  has  been   already  mentioned  is  by 
|io  means  :hc  whole,  if  indeed  it  may  bcjuitly  ac- 

C  counieJ 


1 8  "Jhe  late  Smiles  of 

counted  the  greater  part,  of  our  maritime  fuccefs, 
and  of  the  enem  s  loiIcs,the  laft  year.  Their  pri- 
vate fliips  of  war,  taken  and  dcftroycd  in  this  time, 
are  vaflly  more  numerous,  than  thoie  of  the  king  j 
fo  numerous,  that  I  cannot  pretend  to  makeany  pro- 
bable conjectarc  about  them. 

And  flill  vaflly.more  numerous  than  both  thcfe 
together,  have  been  the  captures  made  of  the  ene- 
my's tranfport,  {tore  and  common  mcrchanr-iliips  ; 
efpecially  if  we  include  thofc  taken  and  dellroyed 
in  the  defcents  made  on  the  coaft  of  France  ;  in 
G;ic  of  which  only,  con(iderably  more  than  a  hun- 
dred fail  fell  into  our  hands  ;  at  leait,  were  wholly 
loll  to  the  enemy. 

I  N  thefe,  almoft  innumerable  captures,  the  ene- 
my have  loft  immenfe  trcafure  and  riches,  which 
have  been  brought  into  Great-Britain  and  her  colo- 
nies. The  eifefts  of  which  in  France  are  vifible 
enough,  in  the  multiplied  bankruptcies  6f  her  mer- 
chants ;  in  the  fcarcicy  of  money,  even  in  the  royal 
funds  and  coifers  ;  in  the  height  of  intcreft  and  in- 
furance  ;  in  the  flagnation  of  trade  and  buflnefs,and 
in  the  confequent  difcontent,  and  murmur:^,  and  dif- 
cords  of  the  people.  The  effects  hereof  are  alfa 
apparent  enough  in  Great-Britain,  and  moft  of  her 
colonies  and  plantations,  in  the  wealth  of  her  mer- 
chants ;  in  the  plenty  of  monw  found  for  public 
ufes  ;  in  the  lownefs  of  incereft  ami  infurance  ;  in 
the  flourifliing  Hate  of  trade  and  bufinefs  ;  and  the 
confequent  general  eafincfs,  contentment,  unanimity 
and  fpirit,of  the  people  of  all  ranks.  It  mufl:  in  fliort 
be  acknowledged  by  all,  who  are  not  fccptical  to  a 
great  degree,  that  the  commerce  of  France,  on 
which  depend  her  chief  llrength  and  rcfourccs,  is 

reduced 


Providence  7'epefented.  19 

reduced  to  a  low  ebb,  and  daily  decrcaHng.  For  noc 
being  able  jo  fecure  and  defend  her  trade, it  is  either 
b.'ocked  up  in  port,  or  falls  into  the  hands  oK  the 
royal  navy,  and  private  cruifers,  of  Grcai-Britaln 
and  her  dependencies.  On  the  other  hand,  by  reu- 
fon  Of  the  great  fupcriority  of  our  naval  power,  and 
our  late  maritime  fuccelles,  our  trade  in  general  is 
in  a  very  flouri filing  condition  ;  and  both  the  private 
nicrchant,and  the  public,  enjoy  almofl:  all  the  advan- 
tages of  a  free,  extenfive  and  gainful  commerce.  , 

T  T  is  not,  however,  pretended  that  Grcat-Bri- 
ta'n  and  her  colonies  have  fulhined  no  loiles  by  fea 
the  year  pafl,  efj->ecially  of  merchant-men.  JMany 
of  them  have  follen  into  the  enemy's  hands  ",  and 
even  two  or  three  of  theKing's  fmaller  fhips,  I  think, 
have  had  the  fame  delliny  ;  which,  without  a  mira- 
cle, could  hardly  hive  been  otherwife.  But  (which 
is  the  only  thing  infilled  on,  and  which  will  not,  I 
prefume,  bi  denied)  our  maritime  lodes  fiill  bear 
no  pro;  ortion,  or  but  a  very  fmall  one,  to  thofe  of 
the  enemy.  And  it  is  probable  that  the  naval  pow- 
er of  Great-Britain,  and  the  number  of  her  mer- 
chant-fliips,  are  n  :w,  both  abfolutely  and  relatively 
greater,  than  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  :  Abfo- 
lutely, as  their  ftrength  and  number  are  increafed 
on  the  whole,  inftead  of  being  leflened,  notwith- 
lianding  her  lofTcs  :  And  relatively,  as  there  is  now 
a  much  greater  difproportion  between  her  fliipping 
and  navy,  and  that  of  France,  than  there  was  at  that 
time.  The  latter  is  indifputably  true  :  And  the 
former  is  equally  certain,  at  lead  fb  far  as  it  con- 
cerns the  royal   navy. 

Fr  o  ht  this  curfbry  and  imperfc(n:  review  of  the 

^Rilitary  events  of  the  lall  year,  (for  it  is  with  events 

C  2  that- 


20  The  late  Smiles  of 

that  I  chiefly  concern  myfelf)  it  appears  that 
God,  whofe  dominion  extends  equally  over 
the  mighty  waters,  and  the  dry  land,  has  prpfpered 
the  Britifli  arms  on  either  element  ;  and  to  fuch  a 
degree,  all  circumllances  being  confidered,  that  our 
proipefts  with  regard  to  the  prcfeat  war  are  now 
much  more  favourable  and  promifing,  than  they 
have  ever  before  been  fince  the  commencement  of  it. 

However,  we  cannot  fo  well  form  a  judgment 
refpe<5ling  this  point,  conddering  the  prefent  clofe 
connexion  between  the  courts  of  London  and  Ber- 
lin, without  taking  into  confideration  the  fucccfleS;, 
with  which  his  "^  PrulTian  majefty  has  been  favoured 
the  lad  year  ;  which,  you  arc  fenfible  are  partly  the 
occalion  of  our  prefent  rejoicing  ;  fo  that  in  fpeak- 
ing  of  them,  I  do  not  deviate  from  the  proper  bufi^ 
nefs  of  the  day  \  and  t,herefore  need  make  no 
apology. 

Indeed  if  we  on]y  compared  his  PrufTianMajcny'g 
dominions,  and  the  number  pf  his  troops,  with  ihofc 
of  his  confederated  enemies,  who  feen>  to  have  joint-? 
ly  vowed  his  deflruftion,  it  might  appear  as  if  he 
had  been  fu^iciently  happy  and  fuccefsfnl,  iK)t  to 
fay  triumphant,  meetly  by  defending  himfelf  againft 
them,  and  not  falling,  long  ago,  a  facrifice  to  their 
refentmcnt.  But  not  fo,  if  we  confider  either  the 
character  of  this  Prince,  or  the  righteous  caufe,  partly 
th^  caufe  of  religious  liberty,  vvhcrein  he  has  drawn 

bis 

•  However  various  the  opinions  of  people  may  be  refpefting 
the  acivantno;e  or  difadvantage  of"  continental  connexions, 
to  Great-Britain  ;  vet  there  is  certainly  one  thing  wherein 
they  mull  ail  be  united  :  That  v/hile  fuch  connexions  tjh- 
tually  fubfill,  Great-Britain  is  nearly  concerned  and  iiiter* 
felted  in  all  the  fuccciles  of  her  allies. 


Fr'wldence  reprefenied*  2 1 

his  fworj.  Thcfe  things,  under  the  providence  antl 
government  of  God,  might  fcem  to  promife  other 
ruccefles  and  trlumphs,than  merely  thofc  of  not  being 
fwallowed  up&:de(troycd,cven  by  fuch  numerous  and 
potent  enemies.  And  had  we  formed  very  fanguine 
hopes  of  this  fort,  we  (ee  by  the  event,  that  hea- 
ven would  not  have  fruitratcd  them.  For  God  has, 
in  divers  inftances  profpered  the  arms  of  his  Pruflian 
Majefly  the  lafl:  year  pad.  To  pafs  over  his  other 
lels  confidcrabie,  tho'  not  inconfiderable  fucccdcs, 
you  are  fenfible  he  has  obtain'd  a  very  fignal 
viiflory  over  the  Ruffian  army,  much  fupcrior  in 
number  to  his  own,  and  commanded  by  a  general, 
inferior,  perhaps,  to  but  few  of  the  prefent  age. 
This  conqucfl:,  according  to  our  lateft  accounts,  was 
fo  dccKIvc  and  complcat,  and  attended  with  fuch  a 
prodigious  (laughter  of  the  mercenary  and  uncivilized, 
the  rapncious,  bloody,  and  almoft  barbarous  enemy, 
that  it  is  not  fo  properly  called  a  vi(5lory  over  the 
Ruffian  army,  as  the  total  ruin  and  deftru£lion 
of  ir. 

In  confcquence  of  th's  declfivc  viiHiory,  (if  I  do 
not  feem  to  ielTen  the  event  by  calling  it  by  that 
name)  his  majcfly  [the  King  of  Pruffiaj  was  left  at 
liberty  and  leifurc  to  turn  his  arms  againfl  his  other 
enemies,  particularly  the  French  and  AuOrians ;  and 
to  reinforce  his  generals  with  vi(ftorious  troops,  or 
rather  with  his  own  royal  pre  fence,  more  powerful  and 
efficacious  than  many  thoufands.  His  enemies  ftill 
remaining  in  the  held,  after  this  memorable  fuccefs, 
were  indeed  very  numerous  and  powerful  :  Nor  do 
we  know  how  the  year's  campaign  ended  with  this 
j!;reat  Commander,  if  it  be  yet  ended.  For  we  are 
fpeaking  of  a  Commander,  to  whom  nil  feafons  fccni 
to  be  alike,  and  wl:h  whom  the  beginning  and  cv\di 

of 


2  2  Ihe  late  Smiles  of 

of  a  year,  and  of  a  campaign,  are  almofi:  the  fame, 
thing.  And  what  may  no[  be  rcafonably  cxpe<fled, 
;^t  lead  hoped  for,  from  a  Monarch  lb  truly  Great  ; 
i)Ot  by  the  united  fiiffrages  aixi  ienfelefs  adorations  of 
i8iiiiliionflave<5,!onc[difcipl!n'diocro..ch,and  annihi- 
late thcmlelves  before  lawlcfs  power  ;  but  Great  by 
his  own  perfonal  actions  and  virtues  ?  What  may  not 
be  hoped  for  from  One,  who  podefTes  almoft  all  hu- 
man accompiiiliments,  cfpecially  the  virtues  military 
and  heroic,  in  the  highefl:  degree  of  perfedlion  ? 
What  may  not  be  hoped  for  from  a  Prince,  fo  vihbly 
upheld  by  providence,  to  vindicate  the  rights  of 
riankind  againft  ilie  invafions  of  tyranny,  and  the 
iifurpations  of  the  papal  fee  ?  What,  not  hoped  for 
from  One,  by  whom  heaven  has,  for  a  conr(e  of 
years,not  only  wrought  wonders, but  feemed  ro  delight 
therein,  tho*  (hll  without  miracle  ?  In  fine.  What  not 
hoped  from  a  Prince,  whom  God  feems  to  have  raifed 
iip.on  purpofethat  in  hin-i  he  "  might  make  his  power 
*'  known,  and  that  his  name  might  be  declared  thro- 
*^  out  all  the  earth*'?  tho'  in  a  far  different  fcnfe 
than  this  is  faid  of  Pharaoh,  the  great  Egyptian  mo- 

jiarch,  and  opprcflbr  of  the  people  of  God. Not, 

that  he  might  fliew  his  power  in  his  down-fall  ajid 
deflru^tion  ;  but  in  his  falvation,  in  his  viftories,  and 
triumphs  over  fuch  numerous  and  potent  enemies, 
Jcagued  againft  him,  and  that  righteous  caufe  of  main- 
taining the  "  liberty  wherewith  Chrifl:  has  made  us 
*^  free",  which  he  has  aflorted  in  oppofition  to  an- 
tichriftian  ufjrpation.  It  would  have  fome  affinity 
to  infidelity  and  atheifm,  not  to  hope  from  fuch 
a  Prince,  ingaged  in  fuch  a  caufe,  and  hitherto  fup- 
ported  and  fucceedcd  by  divine  providence  in  fucli 
a  wonderful  manner,  what  it  might  be  criminal  prc- 
fumption,  or  at  bcft  foolifli  credulity,  to  expeft  from 
another,  of  different  talents  and  dcfigns,  or  to  whom, 

if 


Providence  reprefeiited,  23 

if  I  may  'io  exprcfs  ir,  God  had  not  given  fimilar 
attcflations  and  crcdcncials  of  his  approbation,  and 
prefence  with  him. 

But  not  to  digrcfs  too  far ;  and  to  come  more 
dirc(ftly  to  the  bulincfs  of  the  day,  we  mayjuRly 
look  upon  all  the  fuccefles  and  vi<florics  of"  his  Prufllan 
Majefty  as  our  own,  confidcring  the  alliance  fubfift- 
iiig  between  our  own  Sovereign  and  him,  and  one 
common  caufe  (tho'  not  the  only)  wherein  they  have 
iinlhcathcd  the  fword.  The  advantage  is  truly  ours, 
for  ihib  good  reafon  ;  his  PrulTian  Majeily's  enemies 
arf,  in  ctfc«5i;,  ours.  But  tho*  the  benefit  redound  to 
us  in  part,  the  honour  is  his  own  ;  or  rather  it  be- 
longs to  God,  whofe  is  the  "  victory  and  the 
"  majcfty".  However,  the  more  Heaven  favours 
the  dcfig^ns  and  entcrprizcs  of  this  illufirious  Prince, 
the  more  caufe  of  thankfulncfs  we  have  ;  and  the 
better  profpeft  of  feeing  the  prcfent  war  brought  to 
a  happy  conclufion.  And  if"  the  fame  right  hand 
of  the  Mofl  High,  which  has  hitherto  been  revealed, 
iind  made  iwanifell  in  his  prote£fion  and  conquefls, 
iliould  flill  be  made  bare  for  him;  and  unlefs  affair^ 
jhould  take  a  very  diiferent  turn  from  the  prefent, 
with  rcfpcft  to  the  Britifli  councils  and  arms,  we 
may,  I  humbly  conceive,  after  another  campaign, 
rationally  hope  for  peace  with  France  on  more 
advantageous  terms  than  we  have  long  enjoyed  it, 
even  tb.an   v.e  had  it  by  the   treaty  of  Utrecht. 

But  flill  I  muff  remind  you,  tho' you  arc  pro- 
bably aware  of  it,  that  there  is  almoft  infinite 
uncertainty  in  all  judgments  formed  on  fuch-like 
matters,  tho'  formed  on  jircfcnt  appearances.  They 
arc  {^rounded  iit  bortom  on  |TeCcirious  hypothefcs  ; 
on   luppofkions    that   fome  things  will  continue  as 

they 


24  ^^^^  !^^^  Smiles  of 

they  are,  or  have  been,  without  any  material  alte- 
ration ;  or  that  they  will  be  To  ^nd  fo  ;  vvhicii  things 
being  quite  contingent  as  to  us.  a!l  opii.ions  grounded 
on  them,  cfpccially  rcfpcfting  remote   events,  muft 
of  confequence  be  infinitely  precarious,  amounting 
to  fcarce  more   than  conjcftures,   or   gucflcs  in  the 
dark.     Many  things  may  intervene,  before  the  con- 
clufion  of  a  peace,  which  may  put  another  face  on 
affairs,  and  intirely  fruflrate  our  hopes  re(pe6ting  it, 
tho'  they  fliould  not  be  wholly  without  foundation. 
There  may  poffibly  be  a  fudden  change  in  the  ad- 
jTiiniftration,as  much  for  the  worfc,  as  a  late  one  was 
for  the  better ;  than  which  there   can  fcarce  be  a 
greater  or  more  apparent.     The  Spaniard  may  quite 
fbrfake  his  nutrality,  of  which,  by  feme  things,    he 
has  indeed  feemed  a  little  weary  already.     Our  old 
money-loving  friends,  the  Dutch,  may  perhaps  aft 
more   openly  and    avowedly  againft;  us,  tho'   they 
cannot  do  it  more  really  than  they  have  long  done,by 
Supplying  our  French  enemies   with  provifions   and. 
iiiiliiary  ftores,  and   treacherpufly  carryirlg  on  their 
trade  for  them,   in  their  own  bottoms  and  names : 
Or  other  nations  miay  rife  up  againfl  us,  and  join  our 
enemies.     Famine,  or   peftilcnce,  or  both,  may   be 
fent  to  fcourge  us.     Our  fleets  and  navies  may  lufTcr 
fhipwrcck  in  a  ftorm  of  God's  indignation,  like  the 
formidable  Armada.    Our  armies  may  be  walled  with 
mortal  difeafe  ;  and  become  lefs  terrible  to  the  enemy, 
inrefpcft  of  their  flrcngth  and  valor, than  of  the  con- 
tagion attending  ihcm  :  Or  they  may  poflibly,  l:crc- 
aftcr,  have  traiterous,   weak,  or  pulillanimous  com- 
manders ;  by  whofe  authority,  enforced  by  the  moft 
powerful    motive,   t'leir   own    example,   they  may 
"  flee  when  no  man  purfucth  them".     T  fay,  there 
is  a  pofhbility  of  this,  hereafter  ;  for   if  might  ]^cr- 
liaps  give  offence  to  fome,   \^  I  faid  that  any  thing 

f:iliila£ 


Providence  reprefented,  2j 

fimilnr  to  ic  had  actually  happened  during  the  prc- 
ient  war.  But  I  cannot  but  jufl  mention  it  as  an 
happy  omen,  that  there  is  a  gentleman  f  appointed  to" 
the  chief  military  command  here  in  America,  the 
chief  feat  awd  objec^t  of  the  prcfent  war,  vvhofe  mili- 
tary qualificacions  and  cliara^er  are  fo  well  eftablilh-- 
ed  ;  partly,  by  his  prudent  and  fncccfsful  conduft 
in  the  lace  Hege  of  Louibbourg.  Nor  would  you,  I 
am  perfuadcd,  think  me  cnthuilaftiCj  if  I  adfied-=-:i 
gentleman  who,  as  fame  reports,  has  mcriccd>  aiul 
thereby  had  an  opportunity  of  improving  in  the  art 
of  war>  Uixicr  the  heroe  and  wonder  of  his  age,  the 
King  of  PrulTia  :  For  who  can  help  conceiving  the 
higheft  expciftations  from  a  great  military  genius, 
cultivated  in  the  fchool,  and  amid  fcenes  of  v^'ar, 
under  a  mafler,  on  whofe  flandards  viftory  has  been 
fo  long  accuftomed   to  wait  ?         However, 

From  the  hints  above  yon  will  all  fee,  dnd  the  mod: 
•would  doubtlcfs  fee  without  them,  how  very  uncer- 
tain all  the  events  of  war  are,  tho'  wg  fhould  ground 
our  opinion  and  hopes  on  prefen't  appearances,  anti 
the  moll:  rational  probabilities.  And  now,  leaving 
future  events  with  Him,  who  only  knows,  as  He 
only  determines  them  ;  and  acknowledging  with  gra- 
titude whftt  he  has  already  done  for  us,  refpet^in^ 
the  prefcnt  war  ;  let  us  proceed,  according  to  the 
method  propofed  under  the  firft  general  head  oi* 
dilcourfc, 

gdly  and  laflly,  To  mention  very  briefly,  thofi 
merciesand  bleiTmgs  which  relate  more  particularly  ii> 
this  province  ;  the  fruitfulnels  of  the  palt  I'caibn  ;  the 
general  plenty  and  health,  with  whicli  we  have  been 
favoured.  For,  as  it  is  expreflcd  in  his  Excel lency\' 
D  pruclamauou 

f  His  Excellency  Mi-jor  Ccacral  .'\iDhcrf}. 


2  6  ^he  late  Smiles  of 

proclamation,  "  The  lummer  pad:  has  been  rcn^.ark- 

♦'  ably  fruitful,  and  the  produ(5lions  of  the  country 

"  have  been   fo  greatly  incrcafcci,  that  not  only  our 

*'  own  wants  have  been  iu[)plied,  but  we  kavc  been 

••  enabled  to  furnilli    his  Nbjelly's  forces,  both  by 

*'  fea  and  land,  with  ncctllary  provifions  and  refrefli- 

♦'  ments  :   And  in  molt  parts  wc  have  been  blelTcd 

'^  with   health." 

We  could  never  with  more,  probably  never  with 
{o  much  propriety,  as  we  may  at  prefent,  adopt  the 
language  of  the  Plalmilt,  (aying  in  humble  end 
c^rateful  acknowledgment  of  the  divine  goodnefs — 
*'  Thou  haft  vifited  the  earth,  and  watered  it  ;  thou 
*'  haft  greatly  enriched  it  with  the  river  of  God 
"  which  is  full  of  water.  Thou  haft  watered 
"  the  ridges  thereof  abundantly  :  thou  haft  fettled 
**  the  furrows  thereof :  thou  haft  made  it  foft  witli 
*'  fliowers  ;  thou  hall  bletled  the  fprii.ging  thereof. 
*'  Thou  haft  crowned  the  year  with  thy  goodnefs, 
*''  and  thy  paths  have  dropped  fatnefs.  They  have 
"  dropped  upon  the  paftures  of  the  wildcrnefs  ;  and 
**  the  little  hills  rejoiced  on  every  fdc.  The 
'*  paftures  were  cloathed  with  flocks ;  the  valleys 
"  alfo  were  covered  over  with  corn  ;  they  ilioutcd 
•'  for  joy,   they  alfo  fung""^. 

Thr  country,  (I  mean  in  contradiflinftion  from 
the  maritime  towns,,  and  particularly  from  this 
capital)  The  country,  I  fay,  has  not  only  becii 
fupplied,  but  even  enriched,  by  the  plentiful  pro- 
duce of  this  year.  It  has  enjoyed  an  abundance  with- 
in itfelf ;  which,  at  the  fame  time,  has  overflowed  to 
dillant  places.  Great  quantities  of  provifions  have 
been  fent  to  his  Majefly's  fleet  and  armies :  by  which 

t  fi'-d.  65.  9. 


Providcfice  7'eprefe7ilcd.  27 

means,  we  have  not  only  been  enabled  to  help  for- 
ward the  military  operations,  and  common  caule,  in 
which  we  have  a  very  particular  interelt  ;  but  con- 
liderablc  wealth  has  been  brought  into  the  country  ; 
1  might  properly  lay,  inro  tlic  community.  Becaule 
this  is  really  a  common  bcneHc  ;  efpccially  in  a  thne 
of  war,  a  proponionuble  part  of  the  expence  of 
which  we  oupht  doubtlcls  to  bear,  and  have  always, 
K">  iay  the  leall:,  done  that.  For  this  purpofe,  to  Jay 
nothinf^  of  any  others,  monies  muft  be  levied  and 
raifcd  from  time  to  time  ;  nnd  what  is  brought  in 
by  the  exports  of  the  country's  produce,  will  of 
courfe  circulate  ;  at  leaft  -a  confidcrable  part  thereof, 
however  defirous  many  individuals  may  be  of-  hoard- 
ing. In  this  rcfpect,  a  plentiful  produce  of  the  earth 
ought  to  be  account,  d  a  common  benefit.  Befides  ; 
this  of  courfe  cauleth  a  plenty,  not  only  of  bread, 
the  flaff  of  life  ;  but  alio  of  animal  food,  and  many 
other  thingjs  to  the  advantags  of  all  in  general, 
and  not  only  of  the  husbandman.  For  tho'  the  hus- 
bandman primarily  reaps  the  benefit  hereof,  and 
perhaps  principally;  yet  you  know  that  all  others, 
from  the  hiQ;heft:  to  the  lowelt,  are  "  ferved  by  the 
"  field".  The  citizen,  the  merchant  and  tradcfman, 
all  find  the  advantage  of  a  plentiful  ieafon,  in  the 
proportionably  lower  price  of  provifions,  and  the 
necelliiries  of  life.  This  is  at  leall- generally,  if  not 
univerfally,  true.  For  tho'  the  maritime  towns,  and 
this  in  particular,  have  not,  perhaps,  lb  fully  and 
clearly  perceived  this  advantage  of  the  lalt  year's 
plenty,  by  reafon  of  the  great  exports  ;  yet  a  little 
refleftion  would  fliow  them,  that  under  the  like 
peculiar  circumltanccs  calling  for  fuch  exportation, 
a  year  o-f  fcarcity  mull  needs  have  raifed  the  ne- 
ceflaries  of  life  to  a  price,  far  beyond  what  they  have 
i>een  at  th^  fuiumer  pad,  or  are  at  prefent.     jSo  that 

P   3  il 


2  8  *The  late  Smiles  of 

it  is  certain,  V'hethcr  they  clearly  fee  it  or  not,  that 
they  aftually  reap  the  mentioned  advantage  of  a 
plentiful  produce  ;  tho'  probably,  not  in  fo  great  a 
degree  as  the  husbandman.  Ail  of  us  therefore, 
without  exception,  are  bound  in  reafon  to  acknow^ 
ledge  the  goodnefs  of  God  to  us  in  this  refpe^t. 

As  to  the  general  health  enjoyed  thro'  the  pro* 
yince  ;  this  is  fo  evident,  and  fo  manifeftly  a  great 
blelfmg,  that  it  were  needlefs  to  enlarge  upon  it. 
Health  is  the  foundation  of  all  other  natural  enjoy- 
ments in  general  ;  fo  ncceilary  in  order  to  our  tem- 
poral felicity,  that  without  it  we  muft  be  unhappy, 
even  in  the  bofbm  of  plenty.  Sicknefs  difqualifies 
for  action  ;  not  only  for  bodily  labours,  but  thofc  ot' 
fhe  mind  alfo,  by  reafon  of  this  ftrange  union  and 
fympathy  between  flefli  and  fpirit.  It  palls  every 
(enfe  and  appetite  ;  and  if  we  confider  ourfelves  only 
in  our  worldly  and  temporal  capacity,  leaves  a  mart 
joylefs  and  unblefs'd,  tho'  pofTefled  of  all  the  other 
means  of  enjoyment.  What  obligations  are  we  there- 
fore under  in  this  refpeft,  to  Him  who  is  the  only 
**  health  of  our  countenance,  and  our  God*'  I 

Thus  I  have  done  with  the  firft  thing  propofed, 
having  reprcfented  to  you,  under  three  heads,  and  as 
particularly  as  was  convenient,  what  thofe  merciei 
are,  for  whidi  we  are  this  day  called  upon  to  render 
our  united  praifes  to  our  great  Benefa^or.  And  if 
God  has  conferred  thefc  ble/hngs  upon  us,  while  ^c% 
nndcferving  of  them,  furely  it  becomes  us,  as  we  do 
21  leaft  in  appearance,  to  "  enter  into  his  gates  with 
*'  thankfgivinc;,  and  into  his  courts  with  praife  ;  to 
f^'  be  thankful  unto  him,  and  blefs  his  name."  Buc 
the  explaining  and  inculcating  this  duty,  and  fhewing 
4iow  we  ought  to  conJuCl  ourlolves  in  confcciuencq 

of 


ProviJe?2ce  ?'eprcfe?tteJ.  29 

of  thefe  great  obligations  which  God  has  laid  us 
under,  will,  by  his  permilfion  and  alTiftance,  be  our 
employment  in  the  afternoon. 

In  the  mean  time  let  me  only  add,  that  if  you 
are  duly  thankful  for  thefe  mercies,  fo  as  chriftians 
ought  to  be  ;  if  your  hearts  are  properly  engaged  in 
the  prcfent  duty,  in  oppofition  to  your  offering  a  mere 
formal  facrifice  to  God,  I  may  addrefs  you  in  the 
languapjc  o{'  Solomon,  (fpoaking,  1  fuppofe,  neither 
Ironically,  nor  in  the  pcrlon  of  an  Epicure,  but  feri- 
ouOy  in  his  own,  as  a  wife,  pious  and  good  man)  "  Go 
"  thy  way,  eat  thy  bread  with  joy,  and  drink  thy  wine 
**  with  a  merry  heart ;  for  God  now  accepteih  thy 
"  works  f". 


f  Ecclef.  9,  7. 


?J?*-^c^**iK-^*'.it#')l<:*i5^*^r^^^*-^^^-iC. 


Difcourfe 


e?;*:[-^:^^*-r.i^>:-^:*Ti:ti^-^rK^l^*tJ?-i^**^ 


f    *    4    A     •    ,*    A    A    A    *    «    A    A    Jk     A    4     4      A     A    A    J!     *     A    A    A    ♦ 

Difcourfe  11. 

THE  Duty  of  religious  Thcinkfulnefs 
explain'd  and  inculcated  :  Wliat 
Influence  the  Mercies  of  God  fhould 
have  on  our  future  Lives  ;  with 
fomc  particular  Refledions  on  thofe 
reprefented  in  the  foregoing  Dilcourfe. 


PSALM  C.  4.  Enter  into  his  gates  luith 
tijankjgiving,  and  into  his  courts  with 
prai/e  :  he  thar.kful  unto  him,  and  hlefs 
his  name. 

IN  the  morning  I  recounted  to  yoi:,  as  particu- 
larly as  the  time  would  well  admit,  thofe  mer- 
cies and  blefTings,  on  account  of  wliich  wc  this 
day  enter  into  the  courts  of  our  God  with  praife. 
Thefe  m.ercies  were  confidered  in  the  order  follow- 
ing; I'/Z. 


First,  Thofe  which   relate  to   the  civil  ftate  of 

Theh 


the  nation  in  general. 


Religious  Ihankfulnefs^  Sec,       31 

Then,  Thofe  which  rt-Iate  parriciilarly  to  the 
war  ;  or  the  fuccefTcrs  granted,  the  laft  year,  to  his 
Majelly's  arms,  and  aho  to  the  PruHlan  : 

And  lastly,  Thofe  mercies  which  relate  more 
particularly  to  this  Province  ;  as  the  uncommon 
truitfulnefs  of  the  pad  fcafon,  and  the  general  plen- 
ty and  health,  with  which  we  have  been  favoured. 

It  doubtlefs  becomes  us  to  make  a  grateful  re- 
turn to  almighty  God  for  thefe  great  and  mani- 
told  exprelTions  of  his  loving-kindnefs:  It  is  a  good 
thing  to  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  and  **  praife 
"  is  comely  for  the  upright.  '* 

I  AM  now  therefore,  in  the  fecond  place,  by 
divine  affiftance,  and  according  to  the  method 
propofed, 

,11.  To  explain,  and  inculcate  upon  you,  the  du- 
ty of  religious  thanktulnefs  lor  the  mercies  which 
have  been  reprefcnted  to  you.  And  this  prcfup- 
pofes   and  implies  in  it  various  things  ;  more  efpe- 

cially  thcfe  which  follow  j 

That  we  have  a  proper  fenfe  of  their  greatnefa 
and  importance,  confidcred  in  themfelves  i 

That  we  acknowledge  God,  who  ruleth  in  the 
kingdom  of  men,  and  whofe  providence  governs 
all  things,  asthe  aifthor  of  them  : 

That  we  are  fenfiblc,  they  were  undeferved 
by  us,  and  therefore  flow  from  Mis  mere  favour, 
or  free  grace  ; 

Tkat 


32  Religious  7  hanhfulnefs 

That  our  hearts  nre  raif-d  up  to  God,  on  ac- 
count of  them,  in  the  exerciJeol  devout  affection^ 
or  internal  bleiring  and  praife  :  And  laftly, 

That  we  exprcfs  thcfe  grateful  reniiments  of  our 
hearts,  by  the  external  ads  of  blefTing  tlie  name  of 
the  Lord,  and  finging  his  praifcs. 

ift.  Religious  thankfulnefs  for  thefe  mercies^ 
fuppofes  that  we  have  fome  proper  lenfe  of  their 
greatnefs  and  importance,  confidcred  in  themfdves. 
As  no  perfon  can,  in  the  nature  of  the  thing,  be 
thankful,  or  even  joyful,  on  account  ot  what  he 
does  not  efteem  as  a  real  good,  or  benefit  \  fo  nei- 
ther can  any  one  be  thankful  or  joyful  to  the  degree 
which  he  ought  to  be,  unlefs  his  fenfe  and  elleem  of 
the  fuppofed  benefit  arifcs  in  proportion  to  the 
greatnefs,  or  is  adequate  to  tlie  true  nature  thereof. 
As  far  as  he  undervalues  any  blefTing  ;  as  much  as 
his  efteem  thereof  falls  I"hort  of  being  commenfu- 
rate  to  its  proper  worth  ;  fofar  he  muft  neceffarily 
fall  fhort  of  that  gradcudc  which  he  owes  to  his 
benefador.  For  that  good  which  is  not  perceived 
by  us  is,  to  us,  as  nothing,  however  great  it  may 
be  fuppofed  in  itfelf.  And  of  confequence,  the 
author  of  it  will  be  defrauded,  in  part  at  leaft,  of 
thofe  grateful  returns  from  us,  which  are  due  to 
him.  This  will  hold  equally  true,  whether  we  fpeak 
of  an  human,  or  of  our  Divine  benefador. 

You  ought  therefore,  my  brethren,  ferioufly  ro 
revolve  in  your  minds  the  feveral  benefits  and  blci^ 
fings  which  have  been  enumerated  to  you  ;  to 
confider  how  manifold,  how  great,  they  are  \ 
and  to  gain  a  proper  idea  of  their  value.  Without 
*  \\\m 


explain  d  &P  i?iculcaied,  3  3 

thus  meditating  upon  them,  till  you  perceive  their 
true  worth  and  importance,  you  will  at  bcft  onl/ 
offer  the  i'acrifice  of  a  crude,  unruminated  praife  ; 
at  leaft  as  unworthy  as  "  the  lame  or  the  blind.  " 
And  in  order  to  your  having  a  jult  fenfe  (if  the 
greatnefs  and  value  of  thcle  mercies,  one  of  the 
moft  certain  and  efireftual  ways  will  be,  to  reflecfl 
how  unhappy  we  fliould  have  been  without  them  ; 
or  if  inftead  of  enjoying  them,  the  contrary  evils 
had  befallen  us.  Confider,  for  example,  how  mi- 
ferable  we  fhould  have  been,  if  inflead  of  having 
the  hfe  of  a  good  proteftant  King  prefcrved  to  us  •, 
if  inftead  of  having  the  Britidi  laws  and  govern- 
ment, and  our  civil  and  religious  liberties,  conti- 
nued as  they  are  ;  that  good  King  had  been  taken 
away,  and  a  bad  one  fucceeded  him  ;  (  efpecially 
the  worff,  a  thorough  Roman-catholic,  whofe  evil 
Confcience,whatevcr  he  might  fwear  to  the  contrary^ 
would  flill  oblige  him  to  diftrels,  if  not  to  deflroy, 
his  proteftant  fubjecls  —  for  the  good  of  their  fouls !) 
if  the  free  and  happy  government  of  Great-Britain 
had  been  overturned,  and  arbitrary  fway,  and 
papal  tyranny,  had  been  eftablifhed  in  its  room. 
Had  this  been  the  cafe,  you  muft  needs  be 
fenfible  how  wretched  we  fliould  have  been. 
And  this  reflecftion  will  help  you  to  form  a  juil 
idea  of  the  greatnefs  of  the  beforementioned  blef- 
fings,  which  are  ftill  continued  to  us  ;  and  of 
the  future  enjoyment  of  which,  wc  have  fo  favour- 
able a  profpecl  in  his  Majefty's  royal  Houfe. 

Again  :  If  we  had  obtained  none  of  thofe  mili- 
tary fuccclfes  by  fea  or  land,  which  have  been  enu- 
merited  j  but  thefe  advantages  h.d  all  been  on  the 
fuid  of  our  enemies;  if  the  enemy  had  made  feve- 
ral  fui.cefsful  defcents  on  Britain,  and  taken  divers 

E  oi 


34  Religious  Thankfulnefs 

of  our  fortreffes  ;  if  our  magazines  had  been  dc- 
ftroycd  with  prodigious  ftores  \  had  we  loft:  one 
of  our  valuable  leitlemcnts,  and  fome  place  of  as 
much  importance  to  us,  as  Lojifbourt;  vis  to 
France  ;  had  his  PrufTian  majeft-y  bcvn  iWiTlowed 
up,  inllead  of  biding  viiftoiious  ;  had  our  iiurine 
fuffered  as  much  as  the  enemy's  has  done  ;  had  the 
royal  navy  cf  Britain  fultained  fo  great  a  1  -Is  •,  had 
her  private  {hi[)S  of  war  been  taken  and  deftroycd 
in  fuch  numbers  •,  had  her  merclian'-fhi^'S  been  de- 
ftroyed  by  the  fcore,  or  the  hundred,  in  her  ports, 
and  fuch  vafl  numbers befides,  taken  in  diffv  rent  parts 
of  the  world  ;  had  fuch  immenfe  treafure  been  ta- 
ken from  her,  as  flie  has  taken  from  the  enemy  ; 
were  near  twenty  thoufand  of  her  feamen  prifoners, 
without  any  profpeft  of  a  fpeedy  redemption  ; 
in  fiiU",  jiid  her  commerce  been  almoft  ruined, 
and  that  of  France  in  the  fame  fiouriiliing  con- 
dition with  curs  ;  if  thefe  events  had  taken  place, 
I  fay,  lurely  you  cannot  be  infenfible  of  the  melan- 
chofly,  diftrtffed  fituation  we  fliould  now  have 
been  in  ;  and  confcquently,  cannot  but  fee  what 
a  great  mercy  it  is  to  us,  that  things  have  been  o- 
thei  wife  ordered  •,  and  that  the  Britilli  arms  have 
been  prufpered  to  the  degree  they  have. 

Again  :  If  inftead  of  fo  fruitful  a  feafon  as  the 
paff,  this  had  been  a  year  of  drought  ;  if  inflead 
of  the  great  plenty  of  mod  of  the  necelTaries  of  life 
am'^ng  us,  there  had  been  fcarcity  and  famine  •,  if 
inflead  of  the  general  health  enjoyed,  peftilence,  or 
other  mortal  difeafcs  had  prevailed  ;  if  thefe  events 
had  taken  place,  I  need  not  fay,  but  only  leave  you 
to  judge,  how  unhappy  our  condition  had  been. 
Which  refleflion,  will  at  the  fane  time  fhew  you, 
how  great  the  beforementioned  blefllngs  are ;  which 

is 


explain  d^  inculcated,  35 

is  the  firft  thing  necefiary  in  order  to  your  being 
duly  thankful  for  them. 

Now  it  is  plain,  that  we  might  have  been  left 
dellitute  of  all  the  mercies  which  we  have  enjoyed-, 
and  not  only  fo,  but  have  experienced  all  the  evils 
and  calamities  which  are  the  reverfe  of  them.  And 
the  ultimate,  if  not  the  only  realon,  which  can  be 
afllgncd  why  thtle  evils,  indead  of  thofe:  blefTings, 
have  not  come  up  mi  us  and  the  natii)n,  is,  be- 
caulL-  God  vvas  plcafcd  to  order  events  to  be  as  they 
are.  Which  brings  me  to  the  fccoiid  particular 
me.itiuned  above  ;  namely, 

2dly.  That  in  order  to  our  being  religioufly 
thankful  fur  thcfe  great  bklTmgs,  we  muft  be  renfi" 
ble  that  they  are  beftowed  on  us  by  God,  who  ru- 
Icth  in  the  kingdom  of  men,  and  whofe  providence 
fupei intends  all  ihngs.  That  gratitude  which  is 
properly  called  rtligious,  has  God  alone  for  its  ob- 
j  ft,  a'xi  terminates  on  him  in  diftinftion  from  all 
means  and  inftruments,  as  the  fupreme  Author  of 
the  good,  for  which  we  are  thankful.  It  implies 
a  contradidion  to  fuppofe,  that  we  can  be  duly 
thankful  for  any  bleflings  we  enjoy,  unlefs  we  firm- 
ly believe  the  over-ruling  providence  of  God,  by 
which  events  are  broiight  to  pafs  •,  and  unlefs, 
in  our  thoughts,  we  retcr  them  ultimately  to  him. 
Nor,  indeed,  is  there  any  reafon  why  we  fhould  be 
thankful  to  him,  even  for  the  greatell  bleflings  we 
enjoy,  on  any  other  fuppofition  than  this,  that  his 
kingdom  rulcth  over  all  ;  that  lie  is  truly  and  pro- 
perly the  author  of  thefe  bleffings.  If  he  were  not, 
you  would  be  under  no  more  obligation  to  be  thank- 
ful for  them  to  Jehovah,  than  to  the  i^Lgvptian 
bull,  or  the  golden  calves  {ti  up  in  Dan  and  Bethel. 
All  religious  gratitude  fuppofcs  in  the  Very  notion 
E  2;  oi 


J  6  Religious  Thankfulmfs 

of  it,  t^at  the  good  for  which  we  are  thankful,  is 
the  eflF.:(ft  ol"  God's  good nefs  and  power,  and  tliat 
\t  accrues  to  us  by  the  cifpofitions  of  his_'providcnce. 
From  hpnce  it  is  apparent,  that  tho'  you  have 
ever  fo  juft  and  thorough  a  fenfe  of  the  value  of 
thofc  mercies  w!-i";ch  have  been  rcprefented  to  you  ; 
yet  unlefs  you  are  fully  perfuaded  that  God  gover^^s 
the  world,  and  all  things  that  are  therein,  and  that 
he  has  beflowed  thefe  mercies  on  us,  vou  can,  in 
no  proper  rcni;-,be  thankful  to  him  for  them.  You 
may  indeed,  without  this,  be  glad,  and  heaitily  re- 
joiced on  account  of  them,  or  tha.  ktul  to  thofe 
perfuns  who  have  been  inftrumentai  ot  good  to  the 
public,  wherein  you  have  a  Hiarc  :  But  n(^ithcr  of 
rhefe  things  is  religious  gratitude;  ricither  thankiul- 
nefs  to  mm,  nor  joy  on  account  of  any  profijcrous 
events  ;  tho' the  former  of  them  may,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  them  necefiarily  muft,  attend  it. 

But  not  to  digrefs  :  Le:  me  inculcate  it  upon 
you  as  a  mod  certain  truth,  demonllrable,  if  any 
thing  is  ^o^  by  human  reafon,  as  well  as  the  plain 
d  )(rtriie  of  divine  revelation,  and  a  truth  which 
f]i(Mild  ever  be  in  our  thoughts  ;  that  this  world  is 
undt^r  the  government,  not  of  blind  chance,  or  fate, 
or  men,  or  good,  or  evil  fpirits ;  but  of  that  eternal, 
infinite,  and  omniprefent  Spirit,  to  whom  it  owes 
its  exiffence.  It  is  God*s  world  ;  he  upholds,  he 
mlc^s,  he  controuls  ir,  and  in  fome  way  or  other, 
perhaps  inconceivable  by  us,  adually  orders  and 
deteraiines  the  events  of  it  ;  and  that  with  fuch 
precifion,  that  neither  a  "  fparrow  falls  to  the 
ground,  nor  a  **  lot  is  caft  into  the  lap,  "  without 
him.  All  fubordinate  beings  or  agents,  who  are 
concerned  in  bringing  about  any  events,  any  changes 
or  r(-volutions  in  this  lower  world,  whether  prof- 
pertjus  or  adverfe  to  u?,  are  his  agents,  his  inftru- 

irientSg 


explain  d  ^  inculcated.  3  y 

merits,  all  "  fulfilling  his  pleafure.  "  He  is  there- 
fore to  be  acknowledged  as  chc  fiipreme,  ultimate 
caufe  of  all  thefe  events.  By  him,  his  power  and 
wifdom,  kings  reign,  and  princes  decree  juftice  : 
He  pulleth  down  one  kingdom,  and  fetteth  up 
another.  The  horfe  is  prepared  for  the  battle,  but 
fafety  is  of  the  Lord.  He  giveth  rain  from  heaven, 
and  fruicful  feafons,  filling  our  hearts  with  food  and 
ghdnefs.  —  "  Thine,  O  Lord,  is  the  greatnefs, 
"  and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  and  the  vidtory, 
"  and  the  majefty  :  for  all  that  is  in  the  heaven 
"  and  in  the  earth  is  thine  -,  thine  is  the  kingdom, 
"  O  Lord,  and  thou  art  exalted  as  head  above  all. 
"  Both  riches  and  honor  come  of  thee,  and  thou 
*'  reigneft  over  all,  and  in  thine  hand  is  power  and 
"  might,  and  in  thine  hand  it  is  to  make  great, 
*'  and  to  give  ftrengt!i  unto  all.  *'  Unlefs  we  fin- 
cercly  afTent  to  the  truth  and  propriety  of  thele 
words  of  infpiration,  we  cannot,  whatever  blelTings 
we  enjoy,  properly  adopt  thofe  which  immediately 
follow,  —  "  Now  therefore,  our  God,  we  thank 
Thee,  and  praifc  thy  glorious  name  *.  '*  It  is  mere 
trifling  and  impertinence,  not  piety  in  us,  to  ap- 
pear in  this  place  upon  this  occafion,  unlefs  we 
firmly  believe  the  governing  providence  of  God, 
according  to  the  reprefentations  of  fcripture  :  be- 
caufe  it  is  impofllble  we  fhould  be  religioufly  thank- 
ful for  the  mercies  we  enjoy,  however  great  they 
are  in  themfclves,  without  thus  referring  tiiem  all  to 
Him,  "  of  whom,  and  thro'  whom,  and  to  whom 
are  all  things.  "         But 

gdly.  It  is  requifite  in  order  to  our  being  duly 
thankful  for  thcfe  mercies,  that  v/e  are  fenfible  we 
were  undeferving  of  them,  and  confequently  that 
they  flow  from  the  free  grace,  and  mere  bounty 
of  God  towards  us.     And  indeed,  if  you  confider 

the 
*  I  Chron.  29.  II,  12,  13. 


38  Religious  Ihankfulmfs 

the  matter  with  any  attention,  you  will  perceive 
that  gratitude,  whether  to  God,  or  any  other  be- 
ing, in  the  very  nature  of  it,  fuppofes  him  to  have 
done  a  favour  to  us,  fome  afl  of  kindnefs  or  grace, 
as  diftinguifhed  fromjuftice.  For  we  cannot,  pro- 
perly fpeaking,  thank  any  one  for  doing  an  a6t 
of  mere  juftice,  however  advantageous  it  may  be 
to  us  -,  or  be  thankful  to  him  any  farther  than  he 
has  dealt  by  us  in  a  way  of  bounty,  and  done  what, 
in  point  of  mere  equity,  he  was  under  no  obliga- 
tion to  do.  Thus  far,  and  only  thus  far,  we  may, 
in  propriety  of  language,  be  thankful.  So  that  it  is 
not  fufficient  for  us  to  acknowledgeGod  as  the  real, 
fupreme  author  of  the  before  mentioned  blelTings, 
in  order  to  our  being  grateful  to  him  -,  it  is  more- 
over neceflary  that  we  are  fenfible,  they  f^ow 
from  his  bounty  j  that  we  had  no  claim  to  them, 
founded  in  righteoufnefs  and  equity,  but  that  they 
might  liave  been  with  held  from  us  without  injury 
or  injuftice.  And  that  this  is  true  in  fadV,  cannot 
be  denied  on  the  principles  of  religion,  or  even 
on  thcfe  of  reafon  and  common  fenfe  :  "  For  who 
"  hath  firft  given  unto  him  ?  and  it  fhall  be  re- 
*'  compenfed  to  him  again.  '*  Not  even  the  inno- 
cent and  holy  angels  of  heaven  have  done  fo  ;  and 
therefore,  are  under  obligation  to  thank  God  for 
their  being,  and  all  the  happy  circumftances  that 
have  attended  it  from  firft  to  laft. 

But  we  are  in  a  further  and  higher  fenfe  obliged 
to  acknowledge  that  all  the  blefTmgs  we  enjoy, 
fiow  from  God's  free  Grace,  or  undeferved  good- 
nefs.  For  we  have  not  only,  not  merited  them  by 
nny  thing  we  have  done  •,  but  were  obnoxious  to 
liis  juft  difpleafure,  and  the  effefts  thereof,  by  fin- 
ning againft  him.  So  that  he  might  in  perfcft  con- 
fiftence  with  equity,    not  only  have   withheld   all 

thefe 


explain  d  &^  inculcated,  3  9 

thefe  bleflings  from  us,  but  vifited  our  iniquities 
with  all  the  of.  pofice  evils  •,  yea,  with  far  more 
terrible  ones,  not  only  in  this  world,  but  in  ano* 
ther.  Surely,  neither  we,  nor  the  nation  in  gene- 
ral, are  fo  righteous  before  God,  that  he  was  bound 
in  jultice  to  confer  thefe  bleflings  on  us  :  Would 
to  him  !  we  were  not  fo  unrighteous,  that  he 
niigiit,  without  any  imputation  on  the  equity  of 
his  providence,  have  brought  on  us  the  moft  grie- 
vous  calamities,  as  he  might  unqueftionably  have 
done.  Since,  therefore,  God  has  not  dealt  with  us 
according  to  our  fins,  nor  rewarded  us  according 
to  our  iniquities  ^  but  beftowcd  on  us  fo  many  in- 
valuable mercies,  we  are  obliged  in  ail  fenfe  and 
rcafon  to  own,  that  they  are  the  eftet^ts  of  his  mere 
grace  and  favour.  Nor  is  it  poflible  we  fliould 
be  duly  thankful  to  him  for  thefe  bleflings,  as  fin- 
ful  creatures  ought  to  be,  without  taki  ig  into  con- 
fideration  our  unworthincfs  of  them.  And  in  pro- 
portion  to  the  fenfe  we  have  of  our  unworthincfs, 
and  the  grace  of  God  in  conferring  any  mercies  on 
us,  will  ordinarily  at  lead]  be  the  degree  of  our  gra- 
titude to  him. 

Let  me  therefore,  as  a  necefTary  means  of 
raifing  your  gratitude  to  a  due  height,  and  pro- 
per fervour,  exhort  you  to  reflect  lerioufly  on 
your  own  fins  in  particular,  on  the  fins  of  this 
land,  and  of  the  nation  in  general  ;  on  the  im- 
piety and  infidelity,  the  prophanenefs  and  fcn- 
fuality,  the  pride  and  luxury,  the  fclfifhnefs  and 
venality,  the  injuftice  and  opprefllon,  which  have 
been  in  t^e  midtt  of  us.  Without  this,  tho'  you 
may  pofllbly  have  a  deep  fenfe  of  the  worth  and 
importance  of  thefe  bleflings,  and  may  firmly  be- 
lieve that  God  is  the  autlwrofthcm,  yet  you  can- 
not 


40  Religious, 7  ha^ikfulnefs 

not  be  fo  thoroughly  thankful  for  them  as  you 
ought  to  be  ;  not  having  a  juO.  idea  of  our  unwor- 
ihinefs  of  them,  and  of  the  goodnefs  and  grace  of 
God  in  bcftowing  them.  But  fuch  reflexions  will 
have  the  mod  dired,  and,  by  God's  blefTing,  an 
cffeiftual  tendency,  to  awaken  in  you  the  warmeft 
fentiments  of  gratitude  to  him;  I  fay,  the  warmefl 
fentiments  ot  gratitude  to  him  :  for  you  are  to  re- 
member, that  religious  thankfulneis  does  not  confift 
merely  in  fpecuhtion  •,  in  having  right  notions  and 
conceptions  of  the  bklTings  we  enjoy,  of  their  great- 
nefs  and  value,  of  our  unworthinefs  of  them,and  the 
mercy  of  God  in  bellowing  them  ;  but  in  correfpon- 
ding  operations  of  the  heart  and  mind  towards  our 
almighty,  and  moft  gracious  Benefa6lor.  Th'S  intro- 
duces the  fourth  particular  mentioned  above,  viz. 

4thly.  That  religious  thankfulnefs  implies  in  it 
the  exercife  of  devout  afreclion  towards  God,  or 
the  internal  acfls  of  bleffing  and  praifing  him  for  his 
goodnefs.  Hereby  it  is  intended  to  afctrtain  the  true 
and  proper  nature  of  religious  gratitude,  by  diftin- 
guifliing  it  from  two  things,  v/hich  may  pofTibly  be 
miflaken  for  it.  Firft,  from  the  mere  fenfation  of 
joy,  or  gladnefs  of  heart,  on  account  of  the  blefTings 
which  we  enjoy.  Tliis  is  common  to  good  and  bad 
men  j  atheifts  themfelves  may  poffibly  rejoice  even 
more  than  the  mofl:  pious  men,  in  having  the  means 
of  worldly  and  temporal  happincfs  ;  becaufc  their 
only  portion  being  in  this  world,  they  of  confe- 
quence  fet  an  higher. value  on  thefe  worldly  goods 
than  they,  ,whofe  chief  treafure,  and  whofe  hearts 
are  in  heaven.  Religious  gratitude  is  quite  a  dif-. 
fcrent  thing  from  this  joy  and  rejoicing,  which  ter- 
minate in  the  good  things  poffeffed,  or  enjoyed  by. 
us.  God,  as  was  obferved  above,  is  the  object 
.    .  thereof  j 


explain  d  &^  i?tc ideated,  41 

tlx-rcof  ;  and  it  confifts  in  devout  afTe£lion  towards 
!iiin  ;  in  the  emotions  of"  the  heart,  in  blefTing  and 
prailinq  him,  as  the  author  of  thefc  benefits.  And 
both  ihefe  things  together,  I  mean  the  perception 
of  good,  in  conjunction  with  the  internal  a<St  of 
biclfing  God  as  the  giver  of  it,  make  up  the 
true  fcripturc  idea  of  "  rejoicing  in  the  Lord."  But 
by  the  definition  above,  religious  thankfulnefs  is 
didinguiflied,  not  only  from  the  mere  fenfation  of 
joy  on  account  of  the  blcffings  "received  ;  but  alfo 
from  a  mere  fpcculative  notion  in  the  head,  and  all 
the  operations  of  that  which  is  peculiarly  and 
Ih'iftly  called,  the  intellectual  or  rational  faculty  in 
nian  ;  the  heart  or  aff"e£lions,  as  diftinguiflied  there- 
from, being  the  proper  feat  of  it. 

Some  may  perhaps  think  this,  at  bed,  a  need* 
lefs  refining,  if  not  an  unintelligible  fnbtlety,  or  un* 
meaning  dilfmCtion,  like  many  others  which,  firfl: 
and  lad,  have  darkened  religion ,under  the  pretence 
of  explaining  ir.  For  it  may  be  afked,  if  a  man  is 
fully  fenfible  of  the  worth  of  thofe  blelTmgs  which 
he  enjoys  ;  if  he  is  fully  pcrfwadcd  that  God  is 
the  author  of  them  ;  if  he  knows  his  unworthinefs 
of  them,  and  therefore  is  rationally  convinced  that 
they  flow  from  the  divine  grace  and  bounty,  is  he 
not  therefore  truly  thankful  to  God  for  them  ? 
"What  is  there  ffill  wanting  to  make  him  religioufly 
thankful  ?  I  anfwer,  nothing — but  the  thing  itfelf  ; 
that  which  is  the  very  efTencc  and  fubftancc  of  this 
duty,  or  virtue  :  fuch  a  man  has  all  thofe  juft  and 
rational  conceptions  of  things,  which  are  neceirary 
in  order  to  his  being  duly  thankful,  and  are  a  pro- 
per foundation  for  the  exercife  of  gratitude  towards 
God.  But  flill  no  opinion,  no  judgment  which 
the  mind;  or  rational  faculty,  forms  concerning  the 
JF  gooi.1  nefs 


42  Religious  T hankfulnefs 

goodiiefs  and  mercy  of  God,  however  true  and  ju;!, 
is  icfclf  religious  thankfulncfs.  That  condds,  as 
before  obferved,  in  certain  operations  of  the  heart, 
correfponding  to  thcfe  rational  and  juft  conceptions 
of  the  head,  or  intclJe<Stual  faculty  ;  in  devout  and 
warm  affeftion,  afcending  to  God  like  incenfe  from 
the  altar,  in  an  internal  afcription  of  blefllng  and 
praife  to  him  on  account  of  ihofe  mercies,  for 
which  a  man  was  before  convinced  by  his  reafon, 
that  he  was  indebted,  to  the  divine  goodnefs  and 
grace. 

That  religions  gratitude  implies  fuch  alTe^ion 
of  the  heart, diftinft  from  all  the  operations  or  judg- 
ments of  the  Intelleftusl  faculty,  will  appear  no 
inyflery,  but  plain  truth,  if  you  only  reflect  on 
what  pafTes  in  your  mind  when  a  friend  has  laid 
himfelf  out  to  ferve  you,  and  obliged  you  in  a  high 
degree.  On  fuch  occafions  you  find  in  yourfelves, 
not  a  mere  cold  allent  of  the  mind  to  the  truth  of 
the  fa6f,  that  your  friend  has  done  thus  ;  but  a 
warm  affe£tion  towards  him  as  your  benefactor,  in 
confequence  of  your  knowing  that  he  is  fo  ;  refult- 
ing  from  that  knowledge,  or  the  fcnfe  you  have  of 
what  he  has  done  for  you,  and  therefore  difl:in<ft 
from  it.  This  will  hold  equally  good,if  applied  to  the 
cafe  in  hand.  For  religious  gratitude,and  gratitude  to 
a  friend,  do  not  differ  in  the  nature,  but  only  in 
refpectofthcobiecL,orthe  degree  of  ihem.  Theobjcft 
of  one  is  man  ;  the  objcCf  of  the  other  isGod  ;  both  of 
them  prefuppofca  knowledge,  or  fenfe  of  favours 
received,  or  fomc  obligation  laid  upon  us.  And  if 
we  are  as  fmcercly  thankful  to  God,  as  we  ufually 
are  to  a  generous  bcncfaftor,  wc  Jliall  experience  as 
much  warmth  of  affcChon  towards  him,  in  the  in- 
ward return  of  blciTmg  and  praife ;  or  raflier,  abun- 
dantly 


explain  cl  &^  incidcatecL  4 


'^ 


dantly  more,  in  proportion  to  his  greater  bounty,nnd 
the  ilipcrior  value  of  the  blelfings  which  he  bcilows 


lMAGiNr>  nor,  therefore,  my  Brethren,  that  you 
are  this  day  properly  thankful  to  God  for  his  ma- 
nifold mercies,  merely  bccaufe  you  highly  efleem, 
and  are  rejoiced  on  account  of  them  ;  nor  yet,  merely 
becaulc  you  are  rationally  convinced  of  your  unwor- 
ihinefs  of  them,and  that  they  flow  from  the  free  grace, 
or  unmerited  goodnefs  of  God.  All  this  you  may 
be  fcnfible  of,  and  yet  have  an  ungrateful  heart  ; 
one  that  is  a  Ibangcr  to  all  devout  affection,  to  all 
the  internal  a6ts  of  praidng  and  blefling  God,  from 
whiom  Cometh  down  every  good  and  per  feci  gifr. 
Nor  is  this  only  poiTible  ;  it  may  bcjuftly  feared 
that  many  who  have  jull:  fpcculativc  notions  concern- 
ing the  divine  goodnefs,  agreeably  to  v.-hat  has  been 
laid  above,  arc  nevcrthelefs  actual ly*^rftitutc  ot 
tliankful  hearts  ;  as  diftitutc  perhaps,  almofl,  as  mere 
(ceptics  or  atheifls.  God  forbid,  there  (liould  be 
in  any  of  us,  an  heart  {o  evil  ;  for  it  is  mentioned  as 
one  of  the  blackcH:  (ins  even  of  the  hea.hen, 
whom  God  liad  not  laid  under  fo  many  obligations 
a>  he  has  us,  that ''  when  they  knew  God,  they  glo- 
"  rilied  him  not  as  God,  neither  luere  thankfuL^^"* 
But  if  you  arc  poflelled  of  truly  grateful  hearts  for 
the  blcffings  conferred  on  you,  be  afilired  that  this  is, 
in  God's  account,  "  more  than  all  whole  burnt  offer- 
"  ing?  and  facrihces",  or  "  the  cattle  upon  a  thou- 
"  fand  hills".         But 

5thly.  Tiio'  the  heart  is  what  is  to  be  primarily 
and  chiclly  regarded,  our  gratitude  oiighr,  fonic- 
limcs  at  leaft,  to  be  exprellcd  in  the  outward  cxe> 

F  -  cifcs 

t  Rom.  I.  21^ 


44    What  Effect  the  Me'rcies  of  God 

cifcs  of  piety  ;  in  extolling  the  name  of  God,  and. 
flnging  his  praifes  ;  and  this,  in  a  piiblic,  fecial 
manner^agreeably  to  the  text  :  "  Enter  into  his  gates 
*'  with  thanksgiving,  and  into  his  courts  with  praifc  ; 
"  be  thankful  unto  him,  and  blefs  his  name."  How- 
ever, it  may  be  taken  for  granted,  that  thofe  of  you 
who  are  here  prefent  on  this  joyful  occafion,  do  not 
need  any  arguments  to  convince  you  of  rhe  propriety 
hereof,  tho'  it  is  probable  that  many  others  need 
them.  I  fhall  not,  therefore,  enlarge  upon  this 
point  ;  for  it  is  to  you,  and  not  to  them,  that  I  am 
ipeaking. 

But  there  is  one  thing  more,  which  it  \v\\\  not 
be  amifs  juft  to  remind  you  of,  before  we  proceed 
to  the  lalt  general  head  of  difcourfe.  As  all  the 
blefhngs  which  God  beftows  on  the  finful  children 
of  men,  whether  temporal  or  fpiritual,  are  beftowed 
on  the  |pHHv» plan  of  evangelical  grace,  thro'  the 
great  ''  mediator  between  God  and  men,  the  man 
*'  Chrifl  Jefus";  and  as  all  our  prayers  are  to  be 
offered  up  to  God  in  his  name,  in  order  to  their 
acceptance  ;  fo  alfo  ought  all  our  thanks  and  praifes 
forbleffmgs  received,  to  be  rendered  thro'  him,  to  the 
*'  One  God  and  Father  of  all"j  in  conformity  to  the 
apofiolic  dire^ion  &  admonition  ; — "  Singing  and  mak- 
**  ing  melody  in  your  heart  to  theLord,  giving  thanks 
"  always  for  all  things  unto  God  and"  [or  even] 
f  the  Father,  //;  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chnjl\?'' 

III.  Let  me  now,  as  was  propofed  in  the  laft 
•plnre,  exhort  you  to  live  anfwerably  to  the  obli- 
gaiions  which  God  has  laid  us  under,  by  bellowing 
jhefe  blefTmgs  upon  us.  For  furely  you  cannot  fup- 
pofc,  we  iball  have  balanced  our  accounts  with  him,oi- 

made 
I  Eph.  V.  19,  ::o.  i 


Jhould  have  upon  our  Lives.        45 

made  him  all  tljc  returns  vvhidi  his  manifold  goodncfs 
and  mercies  claim  from  us,  only  by  the  religious  ob- 
fervanon,  and  the  thankfgivings  of  this  day  ;  even 
tho'  we  fliould  not  be  deficient  in  any  of  the  duties 
of  it,  whether  internal  or  external,  private  or  public. 
If  wc  arc  properly  thankful,  and  give  to  God  this 
day  "  the  glory  due  unto  his  name",  thus  far  it  is" 
well  ;  much  better,  I  fear,  than  .fome,  and  per- 
haps than  moH:  of  us,  can  pretend  to  have  done. 
But  however  this  may  be,  itill  you  are  to  remember, 
that  all  the  blefiings  which  we  receive  from  God, 
not  only  demand  our  thanks  and  praifes  for  the  pre- 
fcnt ;  but  arc  an  additional  obligation  laid  upon  us 
to  do,  what  wc  were  all  obliged  to  do  before  j  I 
mean,  to  devote  our  whole  lives  to  his  lervice  and 
glory.  Since  therefore  he  has  thus  "  crowned  us 
"  with  his  loving-kindnefs  and  tender  mercies",  we 
fliall  be  doubly  criminal  if  we  do  not  keep  his  com- 
mandments ;  our  fins  will  be  aggravated  to  a  great 
degree.  We  fhould  have  been  really  without  excufc 
in  living  wickedly,  tho*  God  had  bcdowed  none  of 
thefe  mercies  upon  us  :  For  no  fin  whatever  does, 
in  the  nature  of  it,  admit  of  any  excufc,  properly 
fpcaking,  tho*  it  may  be  attended  fometimes  with 
certain  alleviating  circumftances.  But  our  guilt  is 
greatly  enhanced,  when  our  fins  are  committed  under 
the  dillinguifliing  finilcs  of  heaven  ;  undet  many  and 
great  exprefiions  of  God's  goodncfs  to  us,  and  ma- 
nifeftations  of  his  concern  both  for  our  temporal  and 
fpiritual  welfare;  fuch  as  we  have  been  confidering. 

All  thefe  arc  dcfigncd,  either  to  lead  finners  to 
repentance,  or  to  excite  good  men  to  greater  fidelity 
and  diligence  in  the  fcrvice  of  God.  If  therefore 
there  are  any  prefent,  who  have  hitherto  lived  in  the 
yiohtion  of  his  holy  commandments,  let  me  adraonifh 

them 


46  What  Effect  the  Mercies  of  God^  6cc. 

them  by  thefe  mercies  of  God,  now  to  forfake  their 
fins  ;  to  ceafe  to  do  evil,  and  learn  to  do  well.     For 

"  thinkeft  thou    this,   O  man, that  thou  Jlialt 

'*  efcape  the  judgment  of  God  ?  Or  defpilell  thou 
''  the  riches  of  his  goodncfs,  and  forbearance,  and 
"  long-fuffering,  not  knowing  that  the  goodnefs  of 
**  God  leadeth  thee  to  repentancef?"  Happy  will  it 
be  for  thee  now,  happy  forever,  if  inflead  of  def- 
pifing  the  goodnefs  of  God,  and  countera<5l!ng  its 
tendency,  thou  art  awakened  thereby  to  a  fenfe,  of 
thy  duty.,  and  brought  to  a  thorough  compliance  with 
it.  But  miferable  wilt  thou  be,  both  now  and  here- 
after, if  (till,  *'  after  thy  hardnefs  and  impenitent 
*'  heart,  thou  treafurefl:  up  unto  tliyfelf  wrath  againlt 
"  the  day  of  wrath,  and  revelation  of  the  righteous 
**  judgment  of  God  ;  who  will  render  to  every  man 
*'  according  to  his  deeds'^."  Yea,  on  this  fad  llippo- 
fition,  which  I  do  not  make  without  rclu£tancc,  thcfe 
very  mercies  and  bleffings  will,  in  fome  fenfe,  rife  up 
againft  thee  another  day,  and  aggravate  thy  condem- 
nation ;  and  fo,  in  the  iffiie,  be  turned  into  the  hea- 
viefl  curfes !  Flee,  therefore,  from  the  wrath  to 
come,  and  lay  hold  on  the  hope  ftill  fet  before  thee, 
that  fb  iniquity  may  not  be  thy  ruin  ! 

By  thefe  fame  mercies  of  God,  let  good  men, 
his  faithful  fervants,  be  admonifhed  to  perfevere  in 
well  doing,  and  to  be  Itill  "  followers  of  God  as 
"  dear  children":  and  nor  only  to  perfevere,  but  to 
perfeft  "  holinefs  in  the  fear  of  God".  For  doing 
thus,  an  entrance  fhall  be  minifired  to  you  abundant- 
ly into  that  eternal  kingdom  and  glory,  to  which  he 
has  called  you  by  Jefus  Chrift.  God  has  far  greater 
bleflings  laid  up  in  ftore  for  them  that  love  him,  than 
thofe  for  which  we  are  this  day  prating  him  j  fuch  as 

cy<e 

t  Rom.  II.  3,  4.         *  Ver.  5,  6, 


Particular  Reflections  47 

rye  hatli  not  {ccx^,  nor  car  heard,  neither  have  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man,  even  to  imagine,  in  this  dark 
cllare;  "  this  prcfent  evil  world".  For  ''  God  v.'ho 
"  is  rich  in  mercy,  for  the  great  love  wherewith  he 
"  loved  us,  even  when  we  were  dead  in  fins,  hath 
*'  quickened  us  together  with  Chrift  ;  (by  grace  ye 
"  are  favcd) — that  in  the  ages  to  come  he  might  /hew 
"  the  exceeding  riches  of  his  giace,  in  his  kindneis 
*'  towards  us  thro*  Jefus  Chriftf." 

But  there  are  divers  things,  of  which  I  would 
more  particularly  remind  you  all  in  common,  taking 
occafron  for  it  from  the  particular  nature  of  thofc 
mercies  and  bleffings,  which  were  reprcfentcd  to  you 
in  the  morning  under  feveral  heads.  Each  of 
thefe  will  alTorvt  fbme  remarks  and  refleftions, 
mod:  or  all  of  which,  will  tend  to  promote  chriflian 
piety  and  virtue.         Let  us  begin 

I.  With  the  mercies  fpoken  of  under  the  firft: 
head  ;  fuch  as  the  prefcrvation  of  the  life  of  our 
gracious  King,  and  of  the  Britifli  government,  of  our 
civil  and  religious  liberties,  &c.  The  confidcration  of 
which  blelfrngs,  naturally  fuggefts  the  following  re- 
flections. It  may  fcrve  to  remind  us,  in  the  firfl: 
place,  of  the  duty  of  loyalty,  and  of  fiibmiilion  to 
that  government  under  which  we  have  the  happinelsi 
to  live  ;  not  only  of  fubmiffion  to  the  government' 
elhbliflied,  in  general,  but  to  "  every  ordinance  of 
"■  man,  for  the  Lord's  fake  :  Whether  it  be  to  the 
*'  King  as  fupreme  ;  or  unto  Governors,  as  iinro 
"  them  that  arc  (cut  by  him  for  the  punifluncnt  of 
''  evil-doer^,  and  for  a  praifc  to  them  that  do  wellt*^ 
Surely  it  becomes  us,  as  we  may  well  do  under  fo. 
excellent    a    form   of  government,   and    under  tjier 

reign- 

\  Eph.  II.  4 7.  \  I  Pet.  II.  13,  14. 


48     on  the  late  Smiles  of  Providence. 

reign  of  {o  good  a  King,  to  "  lead  quiet  and  peace- 
*'  able  lives";  to  obey  the  laws,  and  all  the  legal 
commands  ofoiir  civil  rulers, not  being  (inful.  It  would 
be  very  inconfiiknt  and  incongruous  for  us,  u'ho 
pretend  to  be'  thankful  for  the  above-mentioned 
blelTingS)  to  be  turbulent,  or  fcditious,  or  bad  fubjecl-s 
m  any  rcfpcft.  Yea,  it  would  be  highly  criminal,' 
n^  in  us  only,  but  in  any  other  perfons,  who  have 
the  happincfs  of  living  under  fuch  a  free,  mild  go- 
vernment as  the  Britifh,  and  a  King,  with  whom  the 
laws  are'  fo  facred  as  they  have  ever  been  with  his 
prefent  majefty,  either  to  raife  or  countenance  any 
kind  of  rebellion,  or  fedition  in  the  fiate.  It  be- 
comes us  all  rn  general  to  be,  not  only  peaceable, 
and  content  with  the  privileges  we  enjoy,  but  thank- 
ful for  them  ;  to  honour  the  king  and  pray  for  him, 
and  for  the'  continuance  of  fb  good  a  government. 

Another  reflexion,  no  lefg  naturally  arifing  here, 
is,  that  riie  privileges  we  enjoy  utider  the'Britifh  go- 
vernment, being  fo  precious  and  invaluable,  We  are 
bound  in  reafon  and  duty,  if  there  fnonld  ever  be 
occafion,  to  ftand  up  in  the  defence  of  them  againft 
any  illegal  encroachments  of  ufurpadons,  whether  as" 
to  things  fniritual  or  temporal :  For  our  legal  privi- 
leges extend  to  both.  It  wouM  be  h'fghly  criminal 
in  Its  tamely  to  fuffer  them  to  be  wrefted  from  us, 
if  it  was  in  our  power  to  prevent  it  ;  or  to  give  place, 
even  "  for  an  hour",  to  them -who  fhould  have  the 
hardnefs  to  attempt  it.  This  Would  infer  a  coAterhpt 
of  God's  goodnefs  in  giving,  and  preferving  to  us, 
thefe  privileges,  amidft  fo  many  perils  and  dangers 
as  they  have  been  in,  firfl:  and  laft  ;  particularly  un- 
der feveral  inglorious,  not  to  fay  infamous  reigns  of 
the  Stewarts*  In  fhort,  we  cannot  be  true,  hearty 
friends  to  the  free  Englifh  government,  to  the  princi- 


Particular  Reflections^  &c.         49 

pics  of  the  revolution,  to  the  prcfent  Royal  Family, 
or  to  the  protcllant  religion,  without  detclling  tyran- 
ny ;  aiKJ  oppofing  in  our  leveral  places,  and  to  the 
utmolt  of  our  power,  if  ever  there  fiiould  be  occa- 
lion  given  for  it,  all  arbitrary,  illegal  proceedings, 
whether  in  church  or  flate,.  whether  of  great  men 
or  little  ones.  This  is  fcarce  lefs  the  duty  of  every 
Britifh  fubjcft,  than  fubmillioii  to  the  legal  "^  com- 
mands of  their  political  fuperiours. 

But  let  me  finifh  my  rcfledlions  under  this  head, 
by  cautioning  all  not  to  abufe,  or  pervert  the  defign 
of  their  religious  liberty, by  affronting  and  contemning 
all  religion,  and  living  as  without  God  in  the  world. 
A  man  that  ♦'  throws  firebrands,  arrows  and  dcath'\ 
and  thinks  to  vindicate  fuch  deftruftive  fport,  by  fay- 
ing that  he  is  a  free-born  Briton,  you  will  allow, 
has  no  proper  idea  of  Bririfli  liberty  ;  but  ought  ra- 
ther to  be  accounted  a  madman  than  a  civilian.  But 
mad,  at  leafi  to  the  fame  degree,  is  every  man  who 
f[>orts  with  God  and  religion  under  the  fmie  pretence. 
1  lay,  at  leaft,  becaufe  the  laws  forbid  fuch  impiety 
to  God,  as-truly  as  t^ey  do,  burning  your  neighbour's 
houfe,  or  murder.  So  that  the  great  freedom 
even  of  the  Britifh  government,  were  that  the  only 
thing  to  be  confidercd,  is  no  good  excufe  for  irreligion 
G  and 

*  The  term  legal  is  preferred  here  to  lawful,  becaufe  it  is  lefs 
equivocal,  and  fo  lefs  liable  to  be  perverted  to  a  wrong  fcnfe, 
to  countenance  the  arbitrary  condud  of  thofe  that  are  in  pow- 
er. Lawful  is  often  oppcfcd  to  finful,  or  what  God  lias 
forbidden  :  In  wiiich  fcnfe  it  is  not  true,  that  we  are  bound 
in  confciencc  to  obey  ail  the  lawful  commands  of  the  civil 
magiOrate.  If  the  command  is  not  alfo  legal,  or  fuch  as  the 
Jaws  of  the  land  authorife  him  to  give,  it  may  be  innocently 
difrcgarded.  Britifh  fiibje«5ts  arc  to  obey  the  laws,  not  the 
capricious  will  of  any  niagif^ratc,  whether  fuprcmc,  or  fubor- 
dioatc. 


50  Particular  Reflections 

and  Impiety.  But  I  have  no  great  opinion  of  en- 
forcing religion  by  human  laws,  any  further  than  to 
keep  men  iVom  hurting  and  deltroying  one  anothcr> 
(if  that  may  be  called  religion)  it  being  evident  that 
fuch  laws  have,upon  the  whole,  but  very  littlc,if  any 
good  effedl.  We  will  therefore  fuppole  for  the  pre- 
lent,  that  there  were  no  fuch  laws  in  being.  Does 
it  from  hence  follow,  that  you  arc  "  without  law  to 
"  God"?  or  that  you  arc  not  "  under  the  law  to 
*'  Chrift",  who  came  into  this  world  to  "  redeem  us 
*'  from  all  iniquity,  and  to  purify  unto  himfelf  a 
''  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works"?  You 
will  not  fay,  it  does.  Take  heed  then,  that  you 
do  not  abufc  your  religious  liberty ;  throw  not  all  con- 
Icience  afide,  becaufe  you  have  liberty  of  confciencc. 
For  tho'  you  live  under  a  free  governmei.t  ;  yea, 
which  is  much  more,  tho'  *'  Chrift  has  made  us 
free"  from  every  yoke  of  bondage,  you  ought 
to  live  in  the  faith  and  fear  of  God,  and  in  obedience 
to  his  commands,  under  a  fenfc  of  your  being  ac- 
countable to  him  ;  remembring  the  apoftle's  admo- 
nition,—  *'  as  free,  and  not  ufing  your  liberty  for 
"  a  cloke  of  malicioufncfs,  bu^  as  the  fervant  of 
*'  God.  Honor  all  men.  Love  the  brotherhood> 
"  Fear  God.  Honor  the  kingj."  In  jQiort,  the 
true  and  only  ufe  we  ought  to  make  of  our  religious 
liberty,  is  this  :  To  exer'cifc  it  in  a  free,  impartial 
and  ferious  inquiry  into  religion,  that  \vc  may  learn 
"  what  is  the  good,  and  acceptable,  and  perfefl  will 
*^  of  God";  and    having  fouixl  t-  vihat    that  is,  to 

pra£life 
f  Pet.  II,  1 6,  17. 
t  It  is  here  taken  for  granted,  that  every  fuch  free  and  unpreju- 
diced inquirer,  will,  fooner  or  later,  be  a  believer  in  Jefus 
Chrift,  and  that  religion  which  bears  his  name  ;  agreeably  to 
his  own  words  — "  My  dodtrine  is  not  mine,  but  his  that 
•'  fent  me.  if  any  man  will  do"  [dcfiicsto  do]  "his  will, 
*'  he  fliall  know  of  the  do6trine.  whether  it  be  of  God,  or 
*«  whether  i  fpciik  of  niyfelf."  Job.  YII.  16,  17. 


on  the  late  Smiles  of  Providence.      5  i 

pra^tife  agreeably  to  it  ;  to  worfliip  Goil,  and  fervc 
l;iin  in  holinefs  and  ri-'htcoufiicfs  according  to  his 
word,  wichuut  regarding  what  are  the  vulgar,  prcvail- 
ii)g  opinions  and  practices  ;  which,  by  the  way,  have 
generally  been  tvrong,  at  Icaft  in  (bme  points.     But 

2.  Let  us  proceed  to  thofe  mercies  which  were 
referred  to  a  fecond  clals,  in  the  feregoing  difcourfe ; 
viz.  the  fucceircs  given  the  lart  year  to  the  arms  of 
their  Britannic  and  Prullian  Majeflies  :  On  which  wc 
may  make  a  few  brief  refle<ri:ions.  It  appears  from 
hence,  that  thole  who  arc  compelled  to  engage  in  a 
war  for  their  own  defence,  having  a  good  and  juft 
caufe,  m:iy  rcafonably  hope  for  luccefs,  even  tho' 
their  enemies  arc  far  more  numerous,  and  to  human 
appearance  much  (Ironger  than  they.  The  French 
arc  generally  conndered,  and  may  perhaps  be  juftly 
looked  on,  as  the  molt  potent  nation  of  Europe. 
They  compelled  his  Britannic  Majefty,  by  their  rc- 
jicated  encroachments  and  hoftilities,  to  engage  in  a 
war  for  the  fccurity  of  his  American  dominions. 
Blu  tho',  all  circumftanccs  confidercd,  they  may  bs 
the  ftrongcr,  it  is  manifeO:  the  battle,  the  fuccefs, 
has  not  of  late  been  to  the  ftrong ;  nor  indeed  hai 
it  been  fo  on  the  whole,  fince  the  war  be^n.  God 
in  his  providence  has  apparently  given  fuccefs  to 
our  righteous  caufe  againit  I'uperior  numbers  :  For  at 
lead  as  to  numbers,  there  is  no  difpute  ;  nor  would 
there  be  any  room  for  doubt  in  other  refpc(n:s,  were 
it  not  for  the  fuperiority  of  the  royal  navy  of  Britain. 
But  the  prcfcnt  remark  is  grounded  chieliy  on  the 
fucceHes  and  victories  of  his  Prufiian  Majefty  :  Wlio, 
tho'  hcmm'd  round  with  many  enemies  mightier  than 
himfelf.clofely  united  and  leagued  for  his  deftrudlion, 
has  hitherto  cut  his  way  thro'  them,  has  ba(l!ed  their 
J^ifignS;  and  tritunphcd  over  them  thro'  God,  who  has 
G  2  "  tiu^hc 


5  2  Particular  Reflections  * 

*f  taught  his  hands  to  war,  and  his  fingers  to  figh(.  *' 
So  great  is  the  difparity  between  him  and  his  enemies, 
and  fb  extraordinary  his  victories  and  triumphs  over 
them,  that  we  Teem  almofl:  to  be  carried  back  to  the 
age  of  JofliLia,  wherein  "  one  chafed  a  thoufand, 
*'  and  two  put  ten  thoufand  to  flight.'*  And  if  wc 
Jhouldconfider  this  hero  of  his  age  as  fightingjn  pan, 
for  the  fupport  of  true  religion,  or  chrilVian  "^  liberty, 
againft  the  antichrilfian  perfecutors  of  the  church  of 
God  ;  we  could  hardly  forbear  ranking  him  among 
thofe  renowned  warriors,  "  Gideon  and  Barak,  and 
*'  Sampfon,  and  Jcpihae,and  David — who  thro'  faith 
"  fubdued  kingdoms, wrought  righteoufnefs — flopped 
'*  the  mouths  of  lions — efcaped  the  edge  of  the 
*'  fword,  out  of  weaknefs  were  made  ftrong,  waxed 
"  valiant  in  fight,  and  put  to  flight  the  armies  of  the 
*'  aliens.'*  The  conquefis  and  fucccfles  of  this 
monarch  fhovv,  in  the  clearefl:  light,  the  power  of 
God,  and  the  weaknefs  of  man  independently  of 
him.  They  fhew  us  that  if  God  be  for  us,  we  need 
not  "  fear  what  man  can  do  againft  us'*;  and  that 

wherever 
•  It  muft  be  acknowledged  that  religion  is,  at  mofl,  but  a  fccon- 
dary  motive  of  the  war  in  which  his  Pruffian  Majcfty  is  en- 
gaged. However,  his  abhorrence  of  perfccution,  and  (Irong 
attachment  to  the  principles  of  religious  liberty  in  their  utmoft 
extent,  appear  in  part  from  the  following  quotatioH,  After 
fpeakingot  the  religious  feds  in  his  dominions, he  concludes  with 
thefe  words,  at  once  fo  beconn.ing  a  neble  mind,  a  great  prince, 
and  a  good  chriftian  :  "All  thefe",  fays  he,  '•  Jive  here  ifl 
"  peace,  and  contribute  alike  to  the  profperity  of  tlie  ftate  ; 
"  for  there  is  never  a  religion  that  differs  greatly  from  the 
**  reft,  in  refpedt  of  morality.  Hence  they  may  be  all  alike 
**  to  the  gOTernment,  v/hich  of"  courfe  leaves  every  man  at 
*'  liberty  to  go  to  heaven  which  way  he  pleafes.  All  that  is 
"  required  of  them  is,  to  be  peaceful  and  good  fubjefls. 
**  Falfe  zeal  is  a  tyrant  that  depopulates  provinces  ;  tolcra- 
"  tion  is  a  tender  mother  that  makes  them  flourifli."  Difler' 
tation  on  fuperjiition  and  re/i£io7:,zdded  to  the  Metmirs  oftkc 
Uoufe  of  Brandinbourg.     By  the  prcfcnt  King  of  Prufiia. 


o?t  the  late  Smiles  of  Providence.      53 

wherever  there  is  a  righteous  caufe,  whatever  difpro- 
portion,  almoft,  there  may  be  in  numbers,  or  appa- 
rent ftrength,  there  is  ground  to  hope  for  fuccels  : 
For  * '  there  is  no  reftraint  againft  the  Lord,  to  fave 
"  by  many  or   by  few." 

We  are  moreover  taught  from  hence,  both  where 
to  place  our  truft  and  dependence  for  a  happy  ifTuc 
of  the  prefent  war,  and  where  not  to  place  it. 
"  Curfed  be  the  man  that  trufteth  in  man",  faith 
the  prophet,  *'  and  that  maketh  flcfli  his  arm,  and 
"  whofe  heart  departeth  from  the  Lord".^ —  "  It  is 
"  better  to  truft  in  the  Lord,  than  to  put  confidence 
"  in  princes.'*  Tho'  we  have  hitherto  been  fuc- 
cefsful  in  general  the  year  paft,  we  have  not  yet 
"  put  off  the  harnefs";  the  war  is  not  yet  brought 
to  a  conclufion,  and  polTibly  may  be  far  from  it. 
Perhaps  it  may  foon  take  as  different  a  turn,  as  it 
did  about  the  beginning  of  the  prefent  year  ;  a  turn, 
as  calamitous  to  us,  as  that  was  favourable.  This 
depends  not  on  any  man,  or  number  of  men,  "  whofe 
"  breath  is  in  their  noftrils";  and  who  have  no  wif- 
dom,  nor  courage,  nor  power,  independently  of  Him, 
who  worketh  all  things  according  to  the  counfel  of 
his  own  will ;  who  governs  winds,  and  waters,  and 
fcafons,  and  health,  and  difeafe,  and  all  things,  ac- 
cording to  his  pleafure  ;  before  whom  "  all  the  in- 
"  habitants  of  the  earth  are  reputed  as  nothing.'* 
We  cannot  therefore  be  at  any  lofs,  in  whom  it  be- 
comes us  to  place  our  hope  and  dependence,  with 
refpefl  to  a  continuance  of  our  fjccellcs.  If  God 
arife,  his  enemies  fliall  be  icattcrcd  :  all  they  that 
hate  him  fliall  flee  before  him  ;  and  the  eagle  of  vic- 
tory, like  the  martial  hawk,  f  will  "  ftretch  her  wings" 
and  fly,  only  by  his  wifdom  and  commend,  whether 

toward 

t  Job  XXXIX.  26. 


54  Particular  Reflections 

toward  the  north  or  "  toward  the  fouth"^  aljightin:; 
where  he  has  ordained  a  place  for  her.  I 

To  finifh  our  reflexions  on  this  heard  :  Since  our 
whole,  or,  which  comes  to  much  the  fame  thing,  our 
ultimate  dependence,  is  on  almighty  God,  this  admo- 
nifhcs  us,  by  humble  prayer  and  lupplication,  to  feek 
his  farther  blcfling  on  the  Britifli  counfels  and  arms, 
and  military  operations ;  And,  at  the  fame  time,  fliews 
us  the  importance  of  reforming  our  ways,  and  work- 
ing righteoufnefs.  For  tho'  the  prayer  of  the  up- 
right is  God's  delight,  he  hearcth  not  finners  ;  but 
even  the  prayers  of  the  wicked  and  hypocritical,  tho' 
the  raoft  holy  and  facred  of  any  thing  which  belongs 
to  them,  arc  faid  to  be  "  iln",  and  an  *'  abomina- 
**  tion  unto  the  Lord". 

3dly.  Let  us  now  proceed  to  the  blefHngs  which 
were  referred  to  the  laft  head  ;  viz,  thofe  which  re- 
late more  particularly  and  immediately  to  ourfclves  ; 
the  fruitfulnefs  of  the  pafl  feafon,  our  plenty,  health, 
&c.  On  which  the  following  reflexions  may,  I  hope, 
be  proper  and  ufeful — How  incongruous  would  it  be 
for  us  to  con  fume  upon  our  lufts,  thofc  bounties  of 
divine  providence,  for  which  wc  at  leafl;  pretend  to 
be  religioufly  thankful  ?  Doubtlcfs,  if  we  are  fo  in 
reality,  we  fliall  make  confcience  of  obferving  the 
cxafteft  rules  of  reafon,  fobriety  and  n"uDderation,  in 
the  ufe  of  them  from  time  to  time ;  and  whether  we 
eat  or  drink,  or  whatever  we  do,  do  all  to  the  glory 
of  God,  on  whom  "  all  eyes  wait,  that  he  may  give 
them  their  meat  in  due  feafon". 

Moreover;  from  a  confideration  of  the  goodnefs 

of  God  to  us,  thofe  of  us  who  have  ability,  fliould 

be  excited  to  the  exercife  of  charity  and  liberality  to- 

*  wai'ds 


oji  the  late  Smiles  of  Providence,   5  5 

wards  ftic  poor  and  ncccfTitous.  For  even  in  times  of 
general  plenty,  there  will  be  fome  fiich  unhappy 
perfons.  "  The  poor",  fays  our  Saviour,  ^'  you 
"  have  always  with  you".  Nor  is  there  any  bcttcr 
or  more  fubliantial  way  of  outwardly  manifeiling  our 
gratitude  and  love  toGod,  than  that  of  fliewing  mercy 
to  the  proper  objecT:s  <i^  our  charity.  *'  If  any  of  you 
*'  have  this  world's  goods,  l;tys  the  Apoftle,  and 
"  fecth  his  brother  have  need,  and  fliuttcth  up  his 
"  bowels  of  compalfion  from  him,  how  dwellcth  the 
*'  love  of  God  in  hini".'*  Wherefore,  while  we  our- 
felves  blefs  God  for  the  care  he  has  taken  of  us,  let 
"  the  blelTing  of  him  that  is  ready  to  perilh  come 
"  upon  us"  for  our  alms,  and  feafonable  relief. 
This  will  have  a  tendency  to  draw  down  further 
blellings  on  ourfclves.  "  He  hath  difperfed  abroad, 
'*  he  hath  given  to  the  poor  ;  his  righteoufnefs  re- 
"  maineth  forever";  and  "  the  liberal  foul  fliall  be 
"  made  fat."  We  ought  to  account  ourfclves  ho- 
noured by  God  in  being  made,  as  it  were,  his  al- 
moners, to  diflributc  his  bounty  to' the  needy.  And,, 
which  will  be  a  farther  motive  to  the  truly  pious,  this 
will  caufc,  in  many  perfons,  thankfgiving  toGod  as, 
the  fuprcme  author  of  the  reliefs  and  fupplies  which 
they  receive  from  us,  the  inflruments  of  his  mu- 
nificence. 

To  conclude  :  While  we  blcfs  God  for  our 
health,  let  us  be  admoniflicd  to  improve  it  aright,  by 
making  preparation  in  feafon  for  another  world, inRead 
of  neglecting  this  preparation  till  a  time  of  fickncfs, 
in  many  rcfpefis  unfuitable  for  fuch  bufinefs,  at  leafl 
to  begin  it.  The  body  being  diforder'd,  generally 
diforders  andenfccbles  the  mind  in  fome  degree ;  and 
often  quite  incapacitates  it  for  any  rational  a<rts,  and 
poll  of  all  for  religion' J  which   being  altogcdicr  a 

'*  rcalbnable 


56  Particular  Refections 

"  reafonable  fervicc",  peculiarly  requires  the  exercife 
of  the  rational  faculties.  For  I  am  fpcaking  of  the 
chriftian  religion,  not  the  religion  of  that  antichrillian 
church,  wherein  ignorance  is  both  the  mother  and 
rurfe  of  devotion  ;  and  whofc  ufurpations  are  chiefly 
fupportcd  by  the  blindnefs  and  infatuation  of  the 
people. 

But  waving  this  confideration,  you  cannot  be  in- 
fenfible  that  man,  even  m  his  beft  eftate,  "  is  altoge- 
**  ther  vanity'*;  and  that  you  may  be  fuddenly  taken 
out  of  the  world,  without  any  previous  warning,  or 
time  for  preparation.  There  have  lately  been  feve- 
ral  remarkable  examples  hereof  in  this  tov/n  ;  and 
one,  in  a  perfonf  of  fuch  diftinftion  as  has  naturally 
attra£i:ed  a  general  attention.  How  loud,  how  vocal, 
is  fuch  a  difpenfation  of  providence  ?  How  plainly, 
even  like  the  heavenly  ray  and  words  of  infpiration, 
does  it  **  charge  them  that  are  rich,  not  to  truft  in 
"  uncertain  riches  ?**  them  that  are  ftrong  and  heal- 
thy, not  to  truft  in  uncertain  health  ;  "  but  in  the 
*'  living  God,  who  giveth  them  all  things  richly  to 
*'  enjoy  ?'*  It  is  like  the  voice  which  the  prophet 
heard  from  heaven,  crying,  "  All  flefli  is  grafs,  and 
"  all  the  goodlinefs  thereof  is  as  the  flower  of  the 
"  field.  The  grafs  withereth>  the  flower  fadeth, — 
"  furely  the  people  is  grafs'*.  It  may  be  juflly 
apprehended  that  many  people  have  been  taken  out 
of  the  world  as  fuddenly,  tho'  far  lefs  prepared, 
thati  the  perfon  alluded  to  above  ;  who  was  generally 
efteemed  an  upright  man,  and  a  fincere  friend  to 
religion.  However,  it  is  God*s  prerogative  to  judge 
men.  My  view  in  reminding  you  of  this  inftance  of 
fudden  death,  is  to  fhow  you   how  very  precarious 

both 

\  Charles  Apthorp  Ef<i;    a  racrcha«t  of  the  firft  rank  on  tb^ 
coottieflt. 


07t  the  late  SfpAhs  of  Providence*      5  7 

toth  your  hcaltli  and  lives  arc  ;  and  hereby  to  cxcicc 
you,  by  the  bldhiig  of  God,  fo  to  number  your  days, 
that  you  may,  in  fcafon,  apply  your  hearts  unto  vvif- 
dom  ;  not  to  rely  on  your  prefcnt  health  and  (Irength, 
but  to  improve  them  in  worldnj^  out  your  fulvation  ; 
that  fojhow  fooM  or  unexpectedly  foevcr  "  the  earthly 
*'  houfe  of  this  your  t.ibernacle  may  be  diiT()lvcd, 
*'  you  may  have  p^  building  of  God,  an  houfe  not 
*'  made  with  hand^s,  eternal  in  the  heavens'*.  B!e{Ied> 
thrice  blefled  are  all  the  dead,  who  die  in  the  Lord, 
whenever  they  die,  and  whatever  circumfiances  may 
attend  their  death  :  "  Yea",  faith  the  fpirit,  for  they 
reft  "  from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow 
"  them."  They  fhall  furely  have  a  part  in  the  re- 
furre£lion  of  the  juft,  thro'  Him  that  hath  "  aboiifhed 
*'  death,  and  brought  life  and  immortality  to  light 
"  thro'  the  gofpel";  while  others,  however  great  or, 
honourable  in  this  world,  fliall  arifc  to  fhame  and 
*'  everlafting  contempt."  And  He  that  both  died 
and  rofe  again,  that  he  might  be  Lord  both  of  the 
dead  and  living,  hath  faid,  "  Behold,  1  come  quickly, 
*'  and  my  reward  is  with  mc,  to  give  to  every  man 

*'  according  as  his  work  fliall  be". "  Blefled  are 

"  they  that  do  his  commandments,  that  they  may 
*'  have  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  ia 
"  thro'  the  gate  into  the  city.  For  without  are  dogs, 
*'  and  forcerers,  and  whoremongers,  and  idolaters, 
*t  and  whofoever  loveth  and  maketh  a   lie." 


AMEN. 


>^'^ 


# 


J**^'^  i->i\"'i'V  «,- 


